Pension Scam Convict, Yusuf, re-arrested, Spends Night in EFCC detention.

There was no chance for the former assistant director in the federal civil service,John Yakubu Yusuf, who was convicted and freed by an Abuja Court, to enjoy his surprise freedom as he was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission less than 24 hours after he walked out a free man after paying a paltry N250,000 fine for a two year jail time for embezzling N23.3Billion pension fund. The former assistant director in the federal civil service, was tried on a 20-count charge alongside Atiku Abubakar Kigo (Permanent Secretary), Ahmed Inuwa Wada (Director), Veronica Onyegbula (Cashier) and Sani Habila Zira (ICT Officer); they were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in March last year in a police pension scam involving N32.8 billion which was shared between the Permanent Secretary and the other accused persons who were signatories to the police pension fund account. Mr. Yusuf’s sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to betraying trust and fraudulently converting N2 billion of police pension funds to private use. He admitted to the 19th and 20th offences relating specifically to him, each involving betrayal of trust and the conversion of N1 billion apiece. But an Abuja court, presided by Justice Abubakar Talba, yesterday handed him a paltry two year jail term, with a N250,000 fine option as well forfeiting property traced to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, valued at N325 million; he promptly paid the fine and walked out a free man. The EFCC, however, said Mr. Yusuf still has cases to answer. The Commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest, said that there are other related crimes that Mr. Yusuf could have committed that the commission is looking into. He however, refused to confirm whether the ex-pension boss will be re-tried. Nigerians across the world reacted to the light sentence which many described as ridiculous leading to some human rights activists to plan a protest at the Ministry of Justice. The miscarriage of justice irked Nigerians more when the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), revealed thT about 4,000 retired police officers were yet to receive their pensions, stating that the number could be more, as more files of retired officers were still being processed.