BAIL DENIAL: DRAMA AS PENSION THIEF, YUSUF, SLUMPS IN COURT

ABUJA—There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, day, as the convicted pension thief, Mr. John Yusufu, slumped inside the dock shortly after trial Justice Adamu Bello deferred ruling on his bail application till March 11.

Yusufu, who was convicted on January 27 after he confessed to have stolen about N23 billion from the Police Pension Fund, had been in Kuje Prison since January 30, when he was re-arraigned over his alleged complicity in another N300 million fraud.

Prior to his ordeal, the accused was an Assistant Director of Pension in the Police Affairs Ministry.

He is currently answering to a fresh 4-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The accused was said to have on or about February 14, 2012, knowingly failed to make full disclosure of his assets and liability in the Declaration of Assets Form he filled and submitted, and equally failed to declare that he owns a company known as AY-A Global Services Limited.

He was said to have used the name of the company and lodged in a fixed deposit account with the Zenith Bank, the sum of N250 million, N10 million in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and another N29 million which he was said to have instructed one Danjuma Mele to lodge in his company account in the name of Jidag Technical Services Ltd with Diamond Bank.

The offence according to the EFCC, is punishable under section 27 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment e.t.c) Act Cap E1 2004.

However, though Yusufu had through his lead counsel, Mr. Maiyaki Bala, begged the court to allow him to go home on the day he was docked, vowing that he would be available to face his trial.

Justice Adamu Bello declined, saying he should file a formal bail application.

Though the court initially fixed March 1 to hear the application, it subsequently adjourned the motion till yesterday to entertain arguments from both the accused and the prosecution.

At the resumed sitting yesterday, the accused person pleaded the court to grant him bail on liberal terms, just as he implored the court to take judicial notice that he has regularly attended his trial with utmost dedication.

In opposition to his bail application dated February 18, EFCC lawyer Chief Rotimi Jacobs, contended that the court must exercise its discretion based on the established principles of facts of the case, saying the court should consider the criminal antecedents of the accused person.

Rotimi emphasised that  the accused was previously convicted of criminal breach of trust, stressing that in view of such criminal record, he should not be trusted to return before the court to continue his trial once released from prison custody.

Consequently, he urged trial Justice Bello to allow the accused person to remain in custody pending hearing and determination of the charge against him, adding that he would be ready to conclude the trial within two clear days since his witnesses were all set to testify in the matter.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Bello deferred ruling on the bail application, just as he okayed one of the witnesses who was in court yesterday to mount the dock.

At that juncture, the accused person who was visibly apprehensive all through the proceeding slumped in the dock, a situation that caused commotion in the court room with his lawyers rushing to his aid.

Sequel to the situation, Justice Bello had no option than to adjourn the case till March 11, directing that the Prison authorities should give medical attention to the accused person.

Source: Vanguard