Supreme court has affirmed the six years jail term handed to a Former Federal Director of Pensions, John Yakubu Yusuf.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Supreme court further affirmed the court of appeal judgment which ordered him to refund N22.9 billion to the federal government of Nigeria.
In 2013, Yusuf was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N750, 000 fine by Justice Abubakar Talba of Federal Capital Territory High Court, after a plea-bargain arrangement.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), approached the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
In 2018, the court of appeal in its judgement quashed the trial court’s verdict and convicted the former Pension Director on three counts where each of the counts carries two years’ imprisonment and they are to run concurrently.
The court of appeal further ordered him to return N22.9 billion to the government.
After the court of appeal judgment, Yusuf fled but was later rearrested by the commission in June 2020 after which he was remanded in Kuje prison.
In his appeal lodged at the supreme court, he prayed that his conviction and the order that he should refund N22.9 billion be set aside.
Justice Tijjani Abubakar of the apex court, while reading the judgment on Wednesday, upheld the decision of the court of appeal.
The Judge held that the appeal was frivolous, vexatious and devoid of merit.
The supreme court added that Yusuf and others who engage in fraudulent operations must be informed that it is no longer business as usual through court judgments.
Justice Abubakar further held that victims of the convicted Director deserved restitution which can only be achieved through justice.
