EFCC Charges Ex-Oyo Head of Service over N5.6billion Pension Scam

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, May 2nd, 2014

Oyewale Oyelola,

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Friday re-arraigned former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and 11 other suspects in a N5.6Billion pension fraud before Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of Oyo State High Court, Ibadan for conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.

The other staff of Oyo State Pension Board who were re- arraigned alongside Adeleke include Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary, Adeduntan Johnson; Oguntayo Banjo, former internal auditor,Muili Adedamola; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier and Adebiyi Olasumbo Musendia, former administration officer.

Mrs. Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke

Others are: Johnson Bosede; Iyabo Giwa, former cashier, Kareem Rasheed, Adewale Kehinde and Olujinmi Adebayo.

The accused persons are alleged to have stolen the sum of N5.6 billion (Five Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira) meant for the payment of pension and gratuities to various categories of retired teachers in Oyo state.

According to count one of charge : “Muili Hakeem, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Oguntayo Banjo, Adebiyi Musendiq Olasunbo, Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde on or about the 29th day of September, 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain money by false pretence from Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board account number 145430000040401 at Finbank Plc (now FCMB Plc Account number 300564854)”

Count two reads: “Muili Hakeem, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Ayoade, Oguntayo Banjo, Adebiyi Musendiq Olasunbo, Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde on or about the 29th day of September, 2010 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N8,975,000.00 ( Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira) from Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board account number 145430000040401 at Finbank Plc (now FCMB Plc Account number 300564854) on false representation made to Finbank Plc that the money was the gratuity of a pensioner named Kareem R. W.”

It would be recalled that the accused persons were first arraigned on November 7, 2013 before Justice Bolaji Yusuf before the elevation of the trial judge to the Court of Appeal.

Therefore, the trial of the accused persons had to commence from the beginning.

The former Oyo State Head of Service and other accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Gbolagunte adjourned the case to May 30, 2014 for hearing of bail applications of all the accused persons and ordered that they be remanded in Agodi prison, Ibadan.