N738m fraud: EFCC arraigns Maina for using ex-EFCC chair’s name to divert pension cash

By Yusuf Alli and Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned ex-Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, for another trial with his Secretary, Ann Igwe Olachi for allegedly receiving stolen funds amounting to N738,621, 019.99.

Maina and his secretary were arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gwagwalada, which was presided over by Justice Abubakar Kutigi.

At the second arraignment, the former Task Team chief was not on the wheelchair.

He walked into the court, aided by some warders.

There was also another scene at the court when  Maina was accused of allegedly using the name of a  former Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde to divert N5, 476,000 out of the N738,621, 019.99.

He was said to have dishonestly received the N5, 476,000 through one Madubuke Christian and John Yusuf Yakubu knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government.

Although the N5,476, 000 was paid into a First Bank Account (4033010067733) of Madubuke Christian, Maina was said to have “fraudulently used  the name of Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman” under the guise of payment for official code.

A report on how Lamorde’s name was used to siphon the N5, 476,000  was part of the evidence against Maina.

The report said:  “Investigation revealed that the payment said to have been paid to the Executive Chairman (Ibrahim Lamorde) for the total sum of  N2, 738,000 was discovered to have been paid to one Christian Madubuke, Account No. 4033010067733 with First Bank Plc

“Mr. Christian Madubuke, who is a staff of Police Pension Office, was invited to the commission  where he came and volunteered his statement under caution stating that:

• He has never had any relationship monetary or otherwise with the former Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and neither has he ever been contacted by him or through his associates.
• That the monies paid into his accounts said to be for Lamorde was only paid into his account on the directives of Mr. John Yakubu, who is the Assistant Director in-charge of Police Pension Office Account Unit.
• That apart from that, he was also paid another sum of N2, 738,000 estacode.

The EFCC also attached visa and travelling documents of 12 staff of the commission who participated in the biometrics Enrolment for the task force.

“That the staff of the commission that were scheduled and paid for the biometric exercise as listed, travelled for the exercise. This can be verified from the attached copies of traveled documents, manifests of the flights boarded and the embassies where the exercises were conducted,” the EFCC report added.

Other charges against the suspects are as follows: “That Abdulrasheed Maina, on or about July 2, 2010 dishonestly received N150 million from Fredrick Hamilton Global Services through one Osarenkhoe Afe (both of whom are facing a separate charge at the Federal High Court) knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.

The suspects were also alleged to have received N107, 398, 500 from the same Fredrick Hamilton Global Services through one Osarenkhoe Afe on July 8, 2010 barely six days after the first tranche of the diverted sum.

The EFCC said   Abdulrasheed Maina  and Ann Igwe Olachi between July and December 2011 in Abuja “dishonestly received an aggregate sum of N153, 146, 719.99 from Xangee Technologies (which company is facing a separate charge before this court) knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.

“That you Abdulrasheed Maina  and Ann Igwe Olachi between August and December 2010, received N96, 765, 400 from the proprietors of Obalando Enterprises through Kelani Tajudeen and Salami Kareem Adesokan knowing that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of contract for biometric enrolment of pensioners.

“That you Abdulrasheed Maina  and Ann Igwe Olachi between December  2010 and January 2011 dishonestly received N136, 200,000 from one  Ibrahim Abdulkarim that the said money was stolen from the Federal Government under the guise of payment of  allowances.”

The EFCC’s Deputy Chief Legal Officer, M.S. Abubakar, who is prosecuting the suspects, opposed bail for Maina because “he has no valid Nigerian passport and he might escape from the country with his American passport which is still valid.”

He said the second suspect, Ann Igwe Olachi, can be granted bail on the condition that she will deposit all her traveling documents with the court.

The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Kutigi upheld the remand of Maina in Kuje Prison as previously effected by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

He, however, ordered that Ann be taken to Suleja Prison pending the ruling on her bail applications.

The ruling has been fixed for November 28.