N 33 billion Pension Fraud: Court Orders 45 Mansions Seized, Bank Accounts Frozen
Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal H. Gumi, Justice Lawal Gumi has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an interim order to seize 45 mansions belonging to former civil servants who are suspected of embezzling N 32.8 billion in pensioner funds. The Justice also issued an order for the freezing of several of their bank accounts.
The suspects are Esai Dangabar, a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira.
EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujiaren, said the court granted the order in line with Sections 28 and 29 of the EFCC Act of 2004.
Section 28 reads: “Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.”
Of the mansions to be seized, Dangabar owns 15, Onyegbula owns 11, Wada has 6, Kigo owns 5 and Yusuf and Zira have 4 each.
The statement continued, “According to the order, all the bank accounts currently being operated and maintained by Inuwa Wada at Keystone and Zenith Bank, all totalling 11 in number, are hereby temporarily frozen until the determination of the charge Number FCT/Cr/64/2012.
“Similarly, all the bank accounts presently being operated and maintained by Esai Dangabar, Atiku A. Kigo and Veronica Onyegbula in the following banks: EcoBank, FCMB, Access Bank, Skye Bank, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Aso Savings, GTB, Mainstreet Bank and Wema Bank are hereby temporarily frozen pending the hearing and determination of all the said criminal charge No. FCT/64/2012 presently pending before this court,” the Judge is quoted as ruled.
“The 15 property belonging to Esai are: Block of three bedroom flats at Gwarinpa (six units), along EFAB Estate, Life camp; a Block of three-bedroom flats (six units) at Mabushi District, beside Ministry of Works; Estate of four-bedroom duplexes (16 units) behind Wuye Modern Market, Abuja; a mini estate at 19, Ukpabi Asika Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 12 units of two-bedroom flats at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; five-bedroom duplexes at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; four-bedroom bungalows at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; two-bedroom flat at Zone C, Apo Resettlement Layout. Others are: five blocks of one-bedroom flats at Zone C, Apo Resettlement Layout, Abuja; twin duplex of five-bedroom & three rooms, 33, ML Wushishi BQ 1 Crescent, Utako, Abuja; two blocks of three bedroom flats, Area 3, former NYSC Office, Abuja; two-bedroom, Area 2, Abuja, behind Shopping Complex , three-bedroom flats , 2 Goran village, along Adi Farms Ltd, Abuja-Keffi Road, 180,000 litres storage facility on a land of about 5,000sqm, with office building, workshop and 20 loading bay 1 Suleja, Niger State.
“The 11 property belonging to Mrs. Onyegbula are: four-bedroom duplex at No.3, Andorra Street, Sun City, Galadimawa, Abuja; Building Housing Ulover International Resources Ltd, Kechis Bottling Company, Plot 140 – 142 Ehinmiri Housing Estate, Umuahia, Abia State; Building (six-bedroom duplex), Housing Somadok, 14, Ola Adeshile Street, Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos; large plot of land for International Primary & Secondary School, Ehinmiri Housing Estate, Phase 2, Umuahia, Abia State; a mansion with a BQ at Umugbalu Village, Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State.
Others are: two-storey building with shops and flats at No.l03, Ozuitem, Street, Enugu Road, Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; One, two-storey building with shops and flats at No. l04, Ozuitem Street, Enugu Road, Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; two-storey building of six flats at Ukaegbu Street, Aba, Abia State; Student Hostels at Michael Okpara University of Agric, Umudike, Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State; three bedroom duplex at No.1, Tola Adewumi Street, Off. Folarin Hospital, Maryland ; three-bedroom duplex at No.2, Tola Adewumi Street , Off Folarin Hospital, Maryland.
“The six property belonging to Wada are: four-bedroom duplex at Block B4, Finance Quarters, Wuye, Abuja; house at Gwale, Kano; house at Filling Mushe, Gwale Local Government Area, Kano; duplex at Saudauna Crescent, Nassarawa Kano; duplex at Dorayi Karshen Waya, behind Old BUK, Kano; house at Unguwa Uku, Kano.
“The five property belonging to Kigo are a three-bedroom bungalow at 18 Uruguay Street, Panasonic Estate, Wuse 2; four-bedroom duplex at Gudu New layout, Abuja; four-bedroom duplex at 35, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja; a 4 bedroom duplex at FHA, Gwarinpa new Extension beside COCIN Church and an International Secondary and Primary School (under construction) at Kuje, Abuja.
“The Four property of Zira are: Concept College London, Gwarinpa, Close to Ecobank, Abuja; block of flats at FCDA Quarters, Phase II, Block J, Flat 1 & 2 Garki, Abuja ; hotel (aka Habila Hasike’s Hotel) beside Yasekule Primary School, on the same street with Michika Local Government Secretariat, Adamawa State; A House at No.36, Malamre Wark, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.
“Yusuf’s property in Gombe and Abuja are: hotel (under construction, finishing level) behind Gombe State Investment Property Company Housing Estate, Gombe State ; three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at UU1, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja ; three-bedroom semi-detached bungalow at U20, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja .”
Owobamirin
July 17, 2012 at 10:31 am
madness of the highest order !
Mariek1307
July 17, 2012 at 10:52 am
It’s God dat wld judge these thieves. Dey dnt even hv conscience. Amassingall these wealth , wot do dey intend 2 do wif dem? Thieving bastards.