Protest, as EFCC arraigns 12 alleged pension fraudsters

The protesting pensioners, yesterday.

Hundreds of aged and angry-looking pensioners in Oyo State, yesterday, protested at the premises of the State High Court, Ibadan, as 12 accused persons who were alleged to have been involved in pension fraud of N5.6 billion were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The pensioners were armed with placards thanking Governor Abiola Ajimobi for not allowing the suspects to use their influence to cover up the fraud. Other inscriptions on the placards are, “court, please, prosecute these thieves; how are we going to get our gratuities.

Some of them complained that they were yet to receive their gratuities since 2009. Among them were retired primary school teachers, local government staff and others.

While speaking with newsmen after the court had stood down, the leader of the retirees, Mr. Tunji Ogunwale, Deputy Chairman, Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, pleaded with Gov. Ajimobi to look elsewhere to pay their 17 months salary arrears and others.

He lamented that about 50 of the retirees had died while waiting for what they used their lives to labour for.

Meantime, all the 12 accused persons arraigned by the EFCC were, yesterday, ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

The accused persons were arraigned by the anti-graft commission at the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan.

At the sitting of the court, yesterday which was presided over by Justice Bolaji Yussuf, all the accused persons including the ex-Head of Service, Mrs. Adeleke Iyabo were present in court.

The names of the accused persons are Muili Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Adeleke Iyabo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo, and Adewale Kehinde.

They all pleaded not guilty to 213 count charges levelled against them.


Source: Vanguard