A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, on Thursday sentenced a former accountant of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Babatunde Abisuga, to six months imprisonment for offences bordering on stealing of N109m pension funds.
A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said Abisuga was convicted on all the five counts of stealing, abuse of office and forgery preferred against the convict by the anti-graft agency.
The statement said Justice Maryann Anennih passed the sentence on the convict following plea bargain reached between him and the prosecution.
According to the statement, the judge sent Abisuga to three months imprisonment on counts 1 and 2 and to six months imprisonment on counts 5, 6 and 7 without option of fine.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Anennih was quoted as saying, “The conviction is not to punish but to reform the accused person and to deter the public from the get-rich-quick syndrome.”
Abisuga was said to have through his counsel, M. A. Ebute, sought to explore the option of plea bargain since the proceed of the alleged crimes had been recovered in full and handed over to the Federal Civil Service Commission.
Justice Anennih was said to have granted Abisuga’s prayers, subsequent upon which the prosecution, amended the charges and separated him from his co-accused.
He was then re-arraigned and he pleaded guilty to the five counts.
He was earlier arraigned alongside Mohammed Ndakupe and Hassan Mohammed Tukur (now late) on April 3, 2012 on 12 counts to which they all pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, the judge adjourned to June 7 for continuation of trial of Ndakupe.
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