The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday October 17, 2019, filed a motion before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja to amend the charges in the criminal breach of trust and fraud to the tune of N14 billion in the police pension scheme, following the death of the principal defendant, Esai Dangabar, who was facing charges alongside others.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, proceedings were stalled when the lead defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo announced to the court the death of the first defendant, Dangabar, whom he said died on July 24, 2019, a statement issued on Friday by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said.
In buttressing his point, Awomolo submitted the Garki Hospital death certificate of the defendant to the court and appreciated the concern and the accommodating spirit of the presiding judge, since the commencement of the trial.
“I respectfully appreciate His lordship for always giving the first defendant permission to travel for his treatment before his death. I pray for long life for his lordship,” he stated.
Prosecution counsel, A. O. Atolagbe, however, described Dangabar’s death as unfortunate and extended his condolences to his family and prayed the court for more time to amend the charges since the deceased was no longer alive.
“My Lord, I have seen the death certificate of the first defendant. It’s quite unfortunate. We will be asking for sometimes to regularise the charges since the deceased is no longer involved,” Atolagbe said.
Justice Hussein who extended his sympathy to the family of the deceased adjourned the case to December 5, 2019, for the necessary amendments to the charges.
Meanwhile the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC on Friday, November 18, 2019, arraigned one Abdullahi Tijjani before Justice O.A Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Kano, on a one-count charge of deceiving the Commission with false information.
The defendant allegedly misled operatives of the Commission by alleging falsely that a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc, unlawfully withdrew the sum of N7,200,000 (Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from his corporate bank account.
The charge reads that “You Abdullahi Tijjani on or about 15th March, 2019 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, misled the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of the exercise of their official duty, by giving false information that a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc unlawfully withdrew the sum of Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira, only from your account with the bank with account name Bawahala Da Yardar Allah Investment Limited and account number 5852011911, which information you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussein to ask the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel moved an application for his bail.
Justice Egwuatu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter to November 19, 2019, for the commencement of hearing.
