Justice Husseine Baba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja has adjourned to July 11 and 12, 2013 further hearing in the trial of the seven persons being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for complicity in the police pension scam.

The accused persons are Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Uzoma Cyril Attang ,Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, and Christian Madubuke.

At the resumed hearing on June 3, 2013, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, announced his preparedness to commence trial. However, Kanu Agabi ,SAN, who is the counsel to the sixth accused person, Uzoma Cyril Attang prayed the court to grant him more time to study the case file. "My lord I am just coming into the matter and have not been able to read the six bulky case files to enable me represent my client fully," he said.

In his response, Rotimi expressed worry over adjournments at the instance of the accused persons. 'My Lord, you have adjourned this matter for more than a month and am surprised that a new counsel is being brought in, I hope that next adjourned date the accused will not come up with a new counsel."

Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, a major suspect in the Police Pension scam was arraigned on April 10, 2013, before Justice Baba. Attang who was a former chief accountant in the Police Pension Office is standing trial for theft and abuse of office.

The accused persons are said to have used their offices to divert the sum of N20, 154, 728, 660. 18 (Twenty Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Naira and Eighteen Kobo) which sum formed part of the Nigeria Police Pension funds in the account domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria Plc for personal use.

Media & Publicity Unit

3rd June, 2013