Garba Abdullahi Tahir, also known as Tahir Garba, a former accountant for the Pensions Account in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, was found guilty and given a 21-year prison sentence on Friday for stealing N26.1 million intended for retirees.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Abdullahi at a Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended allegation that had elements of money laundering.
At his arraignment, he had entered a not-guilty plea to the accusations. The prosecution called numerous witnesses and presented papers as evidence when the case went to trial.
Judge Inyang Ekwo, who rendered the decision stated that the prosecution had established its case against the defendant, leading to his conviction on all seven charges.
On each of the seven offenses, the judge gave the defendant a three-year prison sentence. Therefore, the sentences must run concurrently beginning on April 3, 2023.
The case is a component of the billion-naira pension fraud at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, which the EFCC began looking into more than ten years ago and later charged several federal servants with.
