N24bn Police Pension Scam: Court Adjourns Over Absence Of Defence Counsel

The trial of seven accused persons complicit in the N24billion scam that rocked the police pension office could not go ahead today as scheduled as Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court adjourned owing to the absence of the lead defense counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) in court.
According to the court clerk, Awomolo who is counsel to the first accused Esai Dangaba, wrote the court asking to be excused to participate in the maiden edition of lecture to mark the 22nd anniversary of his elevation to the inner bar today September 24. He requested that the court adjourns to another date in late November.
The court however gave December 10, 2014 as the new date for the continuation of hearing on the matter.
The seven accused persons who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are; Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christian Madubuke.
The accused persons, who allegedly defrauded the Police Pension Office to the tune of N24billion, were arraigned on April 10, 2013 on a 20-count amended charge that borders on criminal breach of trust contrary to section 315 of the Penal code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.