Court orders EFCC to seize 45 properties; fat bank accounts owned by suspected pension thieves

The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal H. Gumi has granted an interim order to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to attach and take possession of the assets of all the six accused persons who allegedly defrauded the Police Pension Office to the tune of N32.8 billion naira (Thirty Two Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira). 

The Judge further ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of all the accused persons pending the hearing and final determination of the corruption case against them. 

The six suspects who were arraigned on March 29, 2012, on a 16 criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust before Justice Mohammed Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, were Esai Dangabar, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira. Kigo was the director of the Police Pension Office, before he was made permanent secretary. 

Fifteen of the 45 properties which were ordered forfeited on interim basis, belongs to Mr. Dangabar, 11 to Mrs. Onyegbula, six to Mr. Wada, five belongs to Mr. Kigo and four each to Mr. Yusuf and Mr. Zira.   

According to the order, “all the bank accounts currently being operated and maintained by Inuwa Wada at Keystone and Zenith Bank, all totalling 11 in number are hereby temporarily frozen until the determination of the charge Number FCT/Cr/64/2012. Similarly, all the bank accounts presently being operated and maintained by Esai Dangabar, Atiku A. Kigo and Veronica Onyegbula in the following banks: EcoBank, FCMB, Access Bank, Sky Bank, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Aso Savings, GTB, Mainstreet Bank and Wema Bank are herby temporarily frozen pending the hearing and determination of all the said criminal charge No. FCT/64/2012 presently pending before this court”, the Judge ruled. 

The 15 properties belonging to Mr. Esai are: Block of 3 Bedrooms flats at Gwarinpa (6 units), along EFAB Estate, Life camp; a Block of  3 Bedrooms flats (6 units) at Mabushi District, beside Ministry of Works; Estate of 4 Bedroom Duplexes (16 units) Behind Wuye Modern Market, Abuja; a mini estate at No.19, Ukpabi Asika Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 12 Units of 2 bedroom flats at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; 5 Bedroom Duplexes at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja; 4 Bedroom Bungalows at 1, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Gudu District, Abuja;  2 Bedroom flat at Zone C, Apo Resettlement, layout.

Others are: 5 Blocks of One bedroom flats at Zone C, Apo Resettlement layout, Abuja; Twin duplex of 5 bedroom & 3 rooms, 33, ML Wushishi  BQ 1 Crescent, Utako, Abuja; 2 Blocks of 3 Bedroom flats,  Area 3, Former NYSC Office, Abuja;        2 Bedroom , Area 2, Abuja, Behind Shopping , Complex , 3 Bedroom flats , 2 Goran village, along Adi Farms Ltd, Abuja-Keffi road,  180,000 Liters Storage Facility on a Land of about  5,000sqm, with Office Building, Workshop and 20 Loading Bay 1 Suleja,  Niger State.   

The 11 properties belonging to Mrs. Onyegbula are: 4 Bedroom Duplex  at No.3, Andorra  Street, Sun City, Galadimawa, Abuja; Building Housing Ulover International Resources Ltd, Kechis Bottling Company, Plot 140 – 142 Ehinmiri Housing  Estate, Umuahia, Abia State; Building (6 Bedroom Duplex), Housing Somadok, 14, Ola Adeshile Street, Ajao Estate, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos; Large Plot of Land for International Primary & Secondary School, Ehinmiri Housing Estate, Phase 2, Umuahia, Abia State;  A Mansion with a BQ at Umugbalu Village, Oboro, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State. Others are Two Storey Building with shops and flats at No.l03, Ozuitem, Street, Enugu Road Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; 1, two storey building with shops and flats at No. l04, Ozuitem Street, Enugu Road Amuziukwu, Umuahia, Abia State; two storey building of Six flats at Ukaegbu Street, Aba, Abia State; Student Hostels at Michael Okpara University of Agric, Umudike, Oboro, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State; 3 Bedroom Duplex at No.1, Tola Adewumi Street, Off. Folarin Hospital, Maryland; 3 bedrooms Duplex at No.2, Tola Adewumi Street, Off Folarin Hospital, Maryland. 

The six properties belonging to Mr. Wada are: 4 Bedroom Duplex  at Block B4, Finance Quarters, Wuye Abuja; A House at Gwale, Kano;  a house at Filling Mushe, Gwale LG, Kano; A Duplex at  Saudauna Crescent, Nassarawa Kano;  a Duplex at Dorayi Karshen Waya, Behind Old BUK, Kano; A House at  Unguwa Uku, Kano.                                      

The five properties belonging to Mr. Kigo are a 3 bedroom bungalow at 18 Uruguay Street, Panasonic Estate, Wuse 2; a 4 bedroom duplex at Gudu new layout, Abuja;  a 4 bedroom duplex at 35, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja;  a 4 bedroom duplex at FHA, Gwarinpa new Extension beside COCIN church and  an International Secondary and Primary School (under  construction) at Kuje Abuja.           

The four properties belonging to Zira are;Concept College London, Gwarinpa, Close to Eco Bank, Abuja; Block of flats at FCDA Quarters, Phase II, Block J, Flat 1 & 2  Garki, Abuja ;Hotel (aka Habila Hasike’s Hotel) Beside Yasekule Primary School, On the same Street with Michika LG Secretariat, Adamawa State;  A House at No.36, Malamre Wark, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State. While Yusuf’s properties in Gombe and Abuja are: Hotel (Under Construction, finishing level) behind Gombe State investment Property Company Housing Estate,  Gombe State; three Bedroom Semi Detached Bungalow at UU1, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja; three Bedroom Semi Detached Bungalow at U20, A&B, Sunny Homes, Dakwo District, Abuja.