EFCC re-arrests ex-director convicted for N32.8bn pension fraud

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has re-arrested a former Assistant Director in the Federal Civil Service, John Yusuf, convicted for N32.8 billion pension fraud.

Yusuf had been on the run since the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, sentenced him to six years imprisonment and imposed a fine of N22.9bn on him for conniving with five other suspects to steal N32.8bn police pension fund in 2018.

Following his re-arrest, Justice Baba Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday issued a remand order for him to serve his six years jail term in the Kuje custodial facility, Abuja.

EFCC Head, Media, and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Yusuf was initially convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N750, 000 fine by an FCT High Court presided over by Justice Abubakar Talba, in a plea-bargain arrangement.

The conviction, considered to be a slap on the wrist, sparked national outrage.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the EFCC approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment.

Ruling on the substantive matter, the Justices of the Court of Appeal held unanimously that the three counts involving Yusuf clearly stated the amounts he converted for his personal use.

He pleaded guilty to the three counts and admitted to the conversion of an aggregate sum of about N24bn to his personal use.

The EFCC statement read, “The court stressed that the sentence of the trial court did not serve as a deterrence to both the convict and others. Consequently, the justices ruled that the sentence is hereby quashed and deserves to be reviewed.”

Yusuf was consequently sentenced to two years imprisonment with an addition of N20bn fine on count 17; two years imprisonment with an addition of N1.4bn fine on count 18 and another two years imprisonment with a fine of N1.5bn.

The sentence will run consecutively while the fine is cumulative.

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