N18bn Pension Scam: EFCC Arraigns Top Civil Servant

Teidi was docked alongside one Udusegbe Eric Omoefe also known as Otega Akpotehiri, and their companies: Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria Limited, Haleath Enterprises, Uthatak Nigeria Limited, Krasiva Nigeria Limited, Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited and Riba-ile Petroleum Limited, on a 21-count charge of failure to declare assets, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy and concealing the illicit origin of stolen pension fund to the tune of  N18.3bn

Teidi’s re-arraignment followed his application to the Chief Judge through his counsel, Sunday I. Ameh, SAN, seeking the transfer of the case to another court over an alleged bias of the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi.

One of the charge against him reads:

“That you, Dr Sani Teidi Shuaibu, while serving as Director of Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation of Nigeria, Udusegbe Eric Omoefe (also known as Otega Akpotehir), Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria Limited, Haleath Enterprises, Uthathak NIgeria Limited and Krasiva Nigeria Limited at various times between March 2010 and June 2010 within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court, conspired to obtain by false pretence and with intent to defraud various sums in aggregate amount of N1,951,592,000.00 from the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Pension Account held by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation of Nigeria, through fictitious contract payments into bank accounts held by Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria Limited, Haleath Enterprises, Uthathak Nigeria Limited and Krasiva Nigeria Limited with the former Oceanic Bank Plc now known as Ecobank Limited, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section  8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

Justice Kolawole adjourned the case to October 8, 2015 for trial to commence and ordered the accused persons to continue with the bail terms earlier granted them by the trial court.

It will be recalled that, Teidi was first arraigned on March 24, 2011 alongside nine others and 30 companies on a 134-count charge for allegedly defrauding the Pensions Account, Office of the Head of S