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EFCC Arraigns 5 Sokoto Officials Over ₦554m Pension Fraud

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Some officials of the Sokoto State Primary Education Staff Pension Board have been apprehended over alleged misappropriation of funds.

Naija News reports that the officials were arranged before Justice Muhammad of the State High Court on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They are facing a 27-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N553,985,624.

Their names and designations are revealed as thus: the Director of Finance and Supply, Hassana Moyi; Secretary, Abubakar Aliyu; Deputy Director, Halliru Ahmed; Accountant, Kabiru Ahmed and Dahiru Muhammad Isa, Cashier.

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Records had it that in 2019, the EFCC received petitions from several primary school pensioners, complaining they had yet to receive their gratuities since retirement.

EFCC said the officials committed Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law CAP 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.

The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read. S. H. Sa’ad, the prosecution counsel, prayed the court to fix a trial date and grant an accelerated hearing of the matter.

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A. Y. Abubakar, the defence counsel, made an oral application for bail. In his ruling, Justice Muhammad granted the accused persons N55,000,000 bail each and one surety in like sum.

The citizen must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and possess a landed property. The judge thereby adjourned the case until July 26, 2021 for hearing.