5 Top Kogi Officials Arrested For Diverting Pension Fund

                                      

Reports say five top civil servants with the Kogi state government have been arrested because they allegedly diverted a total of N230 million pension fund.

They reportedly diverted the funds into their private use, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The diverted fund, according to the report, was part of money released by the administration of Captain Idris Wada for the payment of pensioners. Confirming their arrest, the state accountant-general, Alhaji Yusuf Okala, who is also the chairman of the staff screening and verification committee, said the alleged crime was revealed while the committee engaged in its task.

“Yes, it is true. We have been able to recover N20 million from them through the efforts of the police command in the state,” he said. Further confirming the development, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, the state auditor-general, vowed that the money would be recovered from the suspects while they would be prosecuted. Currently, over 9,000 retirees in the state are said to be owed up to five months pension arrears. The committee reportedly discovered some ghost workers and pensioners while it is working to block every drain pipes through which public funds filter out of government coffers.

I don't think the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration in the state has high regard for both workers and pensioners. As many authentic pensioners are still owed more than seven months pension arrears.

May God deliver the people from this hardship.