By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — Having spent five days at Kuje Prison, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Atiku Abubakar Kigo and five others, accused of diverting N32.8billion from the Nigeria Police Pension Funds, have approached the trial Abuja High Court at Gudu, begging it to temper justice with mercy and allow them to go back to their families.

It will be recalled that Kigo, alongside his alleged accomplices were on Thursday sent to prison by trial Justice Abukakar Talba shortly after they pleaded not guilty to a 16-count criminal charge that was preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The other accused persons are Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira.

They were said to have conspired and sequentially withdrew monies from Police Pension funds in an account domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria and shared it amongst themselves between January 2009 and June 2011.

The 3rd accused person, Inuwa Wada, was also accused of collecting N18million from Unity Bank Plc, as his reward for retaining the Police Pension Account with the bank.

According to the EFCC, their offence which bothers on conspiracy, fraud and criminal breach of trust, is punishable under sections 97, 315, 115(ii), 119 and 309, of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

Meanwhile, Justice Talba has slated today to hear the bail applications that were filed before him by the accused persons.

Whereas the 1st accused person in the matter, Dangabar filed a separate bail application through his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the five other accused persons filed a consolidated bail application through their own counsel, Chief J.K Gadzama, SAN.

Specifically, they are praying the court in-line with the provision of section 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended, grant them bail on liberal terms, pending the determination of the case against them.

Meanwhile, hearing on the substantive case against them has been fixed for May 28.

these guys must be joking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!