A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 4 for trial of former Director of Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Sani Shuaibu Teidi, and 11 others over alleged failure to declare their assets, among other charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in a 21-count charge accused Teidi and others of failing to declare assets as well as obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy and concealing illicit origin of stolen pension funds to the tune of N18.3 billion.
Teidi’s rearraignment by the EFCC followed his application to the chief judge through his counsel, Sunday Ameh (SAN), seeking the transfer of the case to another court over an alleged bias of the then trial judge.
The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had on October 8 advised both the prosecution and defence to exchange all documents ‘needed to be served’, to one another at the appropriate addresses, before the new adjourned date, saying no excuses would be permitted again for extension of the trial.
The accused persons were alleged to have used many companies, including Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria and Haleath, among others, to steal pension funds.
After entertaining the arguements from both counsel, Justice Kolawole later fixed November 4 for ‘definite hearing’.