Former Head of Service Accountant Jailed 21 Years for Stealing N26.1 Million Meant for Pensioners — A former accountant, Garba Abdullahi Tahir, who was responsible for the pensions account in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment...

Former Head of Service Accountant Jailed 21 Years for Stealing N26.1 Million Meant for Pensioners

A former accountant, Garba Abdullahi Tahir, who was responsible for the pensions account in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been sentenced to 21 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. He was found guilty of converting N26.1 million meant for pensioners to his personal use.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had prosecuted Abdullahi on a seven-count amended charge that bordered on money laundering.

According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, the charges included converting the sum of N3,000,000.00 into cash by Ecobank cheque no. 92 drawn in favour of one Sani Abdullahi, as well as converting the sum of N7,800,000.00 into a bank draft or Manager’s Cheque in favour of CHARO Bureau de Change Ltd through his bank account with Ecobank Plc.

Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the case went into trial with the prosecution calling several witnesses and tendering documents in evidence.

Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the judgement and said the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant and convicted him on all seven charges.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment on each of the seven counts. The sentences are however to run concurrently, from April 3, 2023.

This case is part of the billion naira pension fraud in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, for which a number of civil servants were investigated over ten years ago, and charged to court by the EFCC.

This verdict sends a strong message to public officials who are entrusted with managing public funds. The EFCC has assured Nigerians that it will continue to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption and financial crimes.

The government also needs to strengthen measures to prevent such frauds and protect the interests of vulnerable citizens such as pensioners.