A former Accountant, Pensions Account, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Garba Abdullahi Tahir, also known as Tahir Garba, has been convicted and sentenced to 21 years in prison for stealing N26.1 million meant for pensioners.
A press statement by the Head, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, weekend in Abuja, said Abdullahi was prosecuted by the commission at a Federal High Court, Abuja, on a seven-count amended charge that bordered on money laundering.
He said, “Count four of the charge reads: That you, Garba Abdullahi Tahir,also known as Tahir Garba, on or about January 18, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N3 million into cash by Ecobank cheque No. 92 drawn in favour of one Sani Abdullahi through your bank account with Ecobank Plc which sum represented part of the proceeds of crime of criminal breach of trust committed by you in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.”
Similarly, count six reads, “That you Garba Abdullahi Tahir (also known as Tahir Garba on or about the April 12, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N7,800,000 into a bank draft or Manager’s Cheque in favour of CHARO Bureau de Change Ltd through your bank account with Ecobank Plc, which sum represented part of the proceeds of crime of criminal breach of trust committed by you in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act.”
Also, Count seven read reads, “That you, Garba Abdullahi Tahir (Also known as Tahir Garba) on or about May 17, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N7,500,000 into a bank draft or Manager’s Cheque in favour of CHARO Bureau de Change Ltd through your bank account with Ecobank Plc which sum represented part of the proceeds of crime of criminal breach of trust committed by you in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence.”
The spokesperson said the convict pleaded not guilty to the charges upon arraignment.and the case went into trial with the prosecution calling several witnesses and tendering documents in evidence.
He said while delivering judgment today, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant and convicted him on all seven charges.
The judge sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment on each of the seven counts, however, yhe sentences are to run concurrently, from April 3, 2023.
Uwujaren noted that the case was part of the billion naira pension fraud in the Office of the Head of Service of Federation, for which a number of civil servants were investigated over 10 years ago, and charged to court by the EFCC.
