Respite came for three directors of the Federal Civil Service Commission who were arraigned in an Abuja High Court over alleged pension fraud as the court granted them bail.
Mohammed Hassan Tukur, Babatunde Abisuga were Tuesday arraigned alongside Mohammed Ndakupe on a 12 count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bordering on conspiracy and misappropriation of pension funds valued at N109 million through several First Bank Plc accounts belonging to the Commission between October and November, 2010.
Tukur and Abisuga have both retired from the Commission as Deputy Director Finance and Assistant Director Finance respectively in 2011. But Ndakupe is currently attached with Accounts Department of the Accountant General of the Federation’s office.
Ruling on the bail applications brought by defence counsels, Justice Maryanne Anenih held that the offences are bail-able under the law.She consequently ordered the accused persons to produce one surety each on a bail bond of N5 million each and two passport photographs. The sureties, who must not necessarily be civil servants, must have a landed property with evidence showing such ownership.
Much earlier, the defence counsels: Moses Ebuka and Anthony Agbonlahor had appealed for the bail of the accused persons on liberal terms in accordance with Section of 341 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, adding that the proof of evidence tendered by the anti-graft agency cannot be adduced as a prima facie evidence to deny bail of the accused persons.
There was an unfortunate twist at the resumed hearing as some journalists and AIT crew were harassed and beaten by the accused persons relatives, when they demanded that the journalists should not take there photographs, before the court sitting . It took the intervention of the court officials to put everything under control.After being cautioned the fans and associates of the accused persons apologised for their wrongdoing
