EFCC arrests nine over N1.6bn pension scam in Oyo

One of the suspect escaped arrest.

Nine persons were on Thursday arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over a pension scam amounting to N1.59 billion.

The arrested suspects include Hakeem Muili, Adeduntan Johnson, Oguntayo Banji and Adesina Jimoh.

Others are Johnson Bosede, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Kareem Rasheed, Muili Adedamola and Salewa Adedeji.

One of the accused, Iyabo Giwa, however, escaped arrest even though she was present at the court premises.

The suspects were arrested at the premises of the Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court and whisked to the commission’s Lagos office after being discharged by a Chief Magistrate on the same issue.

A statement from the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on media, said the arrest was sequel to an earlier ruling by Chief Magistrate Durosaro Kehinde-Tijani which struck out the case based on the state government’s application for discontinuance.

The Attorney General, Ojo Adebayo, through a government counsel, had made the application to enable the EFCC take proper control of the matter for effective investigation and eventual prosecution of the alleged culprits.

Mr. Adebayo confirmed in Ibadan on Thursday that the EFCC had taken over the matter, adding that the suspects would be charged to court if found culpable in a fresh investigation to be conducted by the anti-graft commission.

The suspects, who were officials of the state pension board, were arraigned on February 25 for allegedly defrauding the state of N1.59 billion.

They were later arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, abuse of office and stealing.

The prosecution had told the court that Mr. Muili and Ms. Giwa abused the authority of their office. Ms. Giwa was the Executive Secretary of the Pension Board.

The duo were said to have conspired with others to issue cheques and signed in the names of the staff of the pension board to collect pensioners’ money from different banks.