S/Court affirms 6-year jail, N22.9bn refund for ex-pension director, Yusuf

The Supreme Court has affirmed the six-year imprisonment imposed on a former Federal Director of Pensions (FDP), John Yakubu Yusuf, for misappropriating N22.9 billion police pension fund.

Justice Tijjani Abubakar in a unanimous judgment upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, which in 2018 sentenced him to six years imprisonment in addition to ordering him to refund the sum.

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The apex court held that Yusuf and others engaging in fraudulent practices must be told in clear language through court judgments that it is no longer business as usual.

Justice Abubakar said that the appeal of the former federal pension director seeking to set aside the six-year jail term against him was frivolous, vexatious and devoid of merit.

He held that victims of the convicted director deserved restitution, which can only be achieved through justice.

The apex court also ordered Yusuf to refund the N22.9 billion to the federal government coffers.

It held that the judgment of the FCT High Court, which in 2013 sentenced Yusuf to two years imprisonment with an option of N750, 000 was a slap on the wrist.