N5.6bn Pension Scam; EFCC Re-arraigns Adeleke, 11 Others

A former Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Kudirat Iyabo Adeleke and eleven other suspects implicated in a N5.6Billion pension fraud, were today re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of Oyo State High Court, Ibadan  on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust.

The other persons who were re- arraigned alongside Adeleke are Muili Hakeem Aderemi, former executive secretary, Oyo State Pension Board; Adeduntan Johnson; Oguntayo Banjo, former internal auditor, Oyo State Pension Board, and Kareem Rasheed.
Others are: Muili Adedamola; Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, former cashier, Oyo State Pension Board; Adebiyi Olasumbo Musendia, former administration officer, Oyo State Pension Board, Johnson Bosede; Iyabo Giwa, former cashier, Oyo State Pension Board, 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.
Count one of the charge 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, 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."

The accused persons were first arraigned on November 7, 2013 before Justice Bolaji Yusuf. The elevation of the trial judge to the Court of Appeal meant the trial of the accused persons had to commence de novo.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
 Prosecuting counsel, Gbolahan Latona, informed the court that he was ready for trial and sought a date for further hearing. He prayed the court to remand all the accused persons in prison custody.

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.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
2nd May, 2014