22nd March, 2011
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has preferred 134-count charge against Dr. Sani Teidi Shauibu, Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi, Aliyu Bello and twenty nine others, for allegedly defrauding the pension department, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria.
They would be arraigned soonest.
Dr. Suleiman T. Shuaibu is the former Director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, while Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi was the Deputy Director (Finance and Accounts), in the pension office.
Aliyu Bello was a Personal Assistant to Dr. Shuaibu.
Other accused are Garba Abdullahi Tahir, Mohammed Katun Ahmed, Emmanuel Olanipekun, Abdullahi Omeiza, Computer Plaza, Essential Gadget Ventures, Mobis Point Investment Ltd, Obista Enterprises, Shallow Well Ventures, Mof Investment Ltd, Zumba Resources, Pam Investment and Properties Ltd, Moshfad Enterprises, Newgate Projects Ltd, RedWings Energy Ltd, RedWing Procurement Services Ltd, Woodland Industries NIG Ltd.
Others are Nwab Tessy O Enterprises Nigeria, Chris J. Junior Ventures, Uthaka Nigeria Ltd, Bashinta Nigeria ltd, Haleath Enterprises, Gozinda Enterprises, Omozua Ventures, S.S. Badejo Enterprises, Lopee Ventures, Fafama Oil and Gas Ltd, Fafama Estate Developer Ltd and Riba-Ile Petroleum Ltd.
Investigation shows that they used ghost pensioners to pay N2 million and N3 million into their accounts monthly, and later divert the sum by awarding fictitious contracts to the above companies which they manage.
In the suit filed by the EFCC with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2011, dated 21March 2011, the accused were alleged to have used various fictitious companies to divert the sum of N12 billion into private use.
Investigation revealed that the commission froze the latest N12 billion in three accounts allegedly operated by the two directors following a fresh discovery by its team of investigators.
The team had since 2010, been probing alleged massive pension fraud in the Pension Unit of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service.
Count one of the 134 count charge reads: “that you Dr. Shaiubu Sani Teidi, Phina Ukamaka Chidi Computer Plaza, Essential Gadget Ventures, Mobis Point Investment Ltd, Obista Enterprises, Shallow Well Ventures at various times, between 2008 and 2010 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to induce the pension department, office of the head of service of the federation of Nigeria, to deliver to you, various sums in the aggregate of N176, 910, 650.00 property vide the medium of a contract induced by false pretences, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”