Pension Scam: ICPC Drags Pension Staffs, Wife, In-law To Court
By Suleiman Bello
Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) yesterday arraigned some federal civil servants in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF) before an Abuja High Court for allegedly diverting pension funds into private accounts.
The accused persons are, Mr. Abiodun Osagie, his wife Mrs. Regina Osagie and Mr. Oladimeji Bello. The trio were accused of diverting pension funds into their private accounts through various banks and fake identities in violation of the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000.
Also arraigned is Mr. Osagie’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Philomena Ayodele, a 42 year old housewife selling pure-water seller who has been receiving pension for six years when she has never served for one day in any government office.
Mrs Ayodele who was arrested on July 19, 2013 at Keystone Bank, Mararaba branch while trying to withdraw her monthly ‘pension,’ and has confessed that it was Mr. Osagie who approached her and requested for her bank account details in order to enable them pay monthly pensions into her account and share it after collection, which she has been doing for six years.
Mr Folu Olamiti, Resident Consultant on Media and Events to the ICPC, in a statement stated that the arraignment of the suspects marks the end of a nine-month undercover investigation by ICPC of corrupt practices in the Pensions Department of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
He said in the course of the investigation, the ICPC team visited the residence of Mr. Osagie and a list containing several names and account numbers in banks with fictitious names and that of his wife and sister-in-law were retrieved.
Mr. Osagie is currently with the Police Service Commission, while the wife is now with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The spokesman said, Oladimeji Bello is still with the OHSF and was part of the pensions management committee set up after the dissolution of the Maina-led Pensions Reform Task Team (PRTT) and allegedly abused his office by re-inserting the ghost names into the pension list.
The court has adjourned the matter to November 6, 2014 for hearing.
