Police Pension boss sentenced to 2yrs imprisonment for stealing N27billion; ...but gets N750,000 option of fine!

Surprise pervaded a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on Monday when a director of the Police Pension Office, Mr. John Yusuf, was handed down only a two-year jail sentence for conniving with others to defraud the office and pensioners of N27.2bn.

Yusuf admitted to stealing N2bn of the money. But he would not spend the two years in jail as Justice Abubakar Talba gave him an option of fine in the sum of N750,000 for the three offences he pleaded guilty to.

Each of the three offences attracts a two-year jail term. The sentences run cuncurrently.

Yusuf, who by his sentence becomes the first to be jailed in the ongoing trial of persons involved in the N38.8bn Police pension scam, will however forfeit 32 houses in the FCT and Gombe as well as N325m which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said were proceeds from the crime.

Many in the courtroom openly expressed their amazement with Talba’s judgment.

The exchanges among the gathering, which included lawyers, journalists, relatives of all the accused persons and observers, were loud enough for the court clerk to call everybody to order.

The lenient nature of the sentence was underscored by the reaction of Yusuf’s lawyer, Maiyaki Bala, who said his client was ready to pay the fine immediately after the sentencing.

With EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), noticeably close to tears, Bala told journalists that they intended to take up the option of fine immediately.

There were indications that Yusuf, who appeared calm and confident in a light green kaftan with a matching green cap, made the payment before leaving the premises of the court, located in Gudu.

Although his bank accounts were reportedly frozen by the order of the court, it seemed he was still able to raise money – perhaps through friends and relatives – as it was gathered that he was issued with a Revenue Collector’s Receipt before he left the court premises.

The convict, who had been on bail before he was sentenced, was driven away in his personal car.

Before Talba read the judgment, the embattled director had made a U-turn on his earlier not guilty plea by admitting that he committed three offences.

Yusuf specifically pleaded guilty to counts 18, 19 and 20, where he was alleged to have connived with the other suspects –Essai Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Veronica Ulonma, Sani Zira, Uzoma Attang and Christian Madubuike – to convert the sums of N24.2bn, N1.3bn and N1.7bn, belonging to the office to their personal use.

Yusuf’s sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to betraying trust and fraudulently converting N2bn of police pension funds to private use. The trial continues for the other accused.