BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE

ABUJA – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has preferred a 134-count charge against Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibi, Mrs. Phina Ukamaka Chidi, Aliyu Bello and 21 others, for allegedly defrauding the pension department, office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria, over N12billion pension fund.

They will be arraigned next week.

Dr. Suleiman T. Shuaibu was 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 persons 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 nig, Chris J. Junior Ventures, Uthaka Nigeria Ltd, Bashinta Nigeria Ltd, Haleath Enterprises, Gozinda Enterprises, Omozua Ventures, S.S Badejo Entreprises, Lopee Ventures, Fafama Oil and Gas Ltd, Fafama Estate Developer Ltd and Riba-Ile Petroleum Ltd.

Investigation clearly indicated that they used ghost pensioners to pay N2million and N3million into their accounts monthly, and later diverted the money through  fictitious award of contracts to the  companies which they had interest.

In the suit filed by the EFCC, dated March 21, 2011, the accused were alleged to have used various fictitious companies to divert N12 billion into private use.

Investigation also revealed that the commission froze the latest N12billion in three accounts allegedly operated by the two directors, following a fresh discovery by its team of investigators.

The team that uncovered the fraud had since 2010 been probing alleged massive pension fraud in the Pension Unit of  Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

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 yourself 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 Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006”