- Bello vows to prosecute culprits
The Kogi State government has uncovered a multi-billion naira pension fraud perpetrated under the administrations of former Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada.
According to an audit report made available to newsmen, the fraud stood at over N4.3 billion between 2010 and 2015.
The report shows that the syndicate was diverting pension and gratuity funds to private accounts, using names of unintended beneficiaries to the detriment of pensioners in the state. On assumption of office, Governor Yahaya Bello had ordered a comprehensive audit of pension funds in the state as a result of unpaid pensions.
The revelations of the audit have been mindboggling, revealing the humongous fraud in the pension administration under the two administrations in the state. The governor has vowed to prosecute those who were found guilty in the pension fraud. Speaking with reporters in Lokoja, the state capital, at the weekend, the Director General of Media and Publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, said Bello is ‘sad’ over the incident. “His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has expressed disappointment over the unfortunate diversion of pension funds during the last two administrations in the state. He has found it very hard to understand how people put in authority could punish the senior citizens of our dear state by diverting monies meant for their pensions and gratuities into private pockets.
“To this end, the governor has directed the publication of the full reports, promising that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted to explain their heinous crimes against innocent pensioners in the state. “The present administration in the state is fighting corruption. To move forward, we must clean up our corrupt past and redeem whatever we can to instill discipline in the system and confidence in our people’s minds. We will never condone acts of corruption. “We have been repaying bonds that were either stolen or misapplied. We are repaying loans that were taken and stolen outright by the previous administrations. These are the things affecting our liquidity as a state.”
