N1.59bn Pension Scam: Court Rules On June 20

An Ibadan Chief  Magistrates’ Court will on June 20 rule on an  application to  withdraw the charges against 10  persons accused of  defrauding the Oyo State Government of N1.59 billion pension fund.

Those accused are  Alhaji Hakeem Muili, Alhaja Iyabo Giwa, Adeduntan Johnson, Oguntayo Banji and Adesina Jimoh.

Others are Johnson Bosede, Adebiyi Olasumbo, Kareem Rasheed, Muili  Adedamola and Salewa Adedeji.

The prosecutor and Principal State Counsel, Ademola Ojekunle, told  the court that the state’s  Attorney General, Mr Adebayo Ojo, had  instructed him to withdraw the charges against the accused persons.

Ojekunle said  that the withdrawal of the charges would aid further investigation and prosecution of  the matter at the state High Court.

But the defence counsel, Adeyinka Okunade,  opposed the application for withdrawal.

Okunade argued that the prosecution could  continue its  investigation and present the outcome while the case remained at the court.

He also said that it would not be in the interest of justice if the application for withdrawal was  granted.

The defence counsel added that there was the likelihood that the accused persons could  be re-arrested, describing  this as an abuse of court  process.

The prosecutor, however, cited  section 75 of the Criminal Code of  Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000 empowering  the Attorney General  to withdraw the matter.

Ojekunle also urged the court not to act on the speculation that the accused may  be arrested.

Chief Magistrate Kehinde Durosaro-Tijani adjourned the case to June 20 for ruling on the matter.

It would be recalled that the 10  officials of the pension board were arraigned on February  25  for  alleged fraud of N1.59 billion.

Our correspondent reports that they were arraigned on  a three-count charge of conspiracy, abuse of office and stealing.

The prosecution had told the court  that Muili and Giwa  abused the authority of their office.

Giwa was the former Executive Secretary of the Pension Board.

The duo of  Muili and Giwa were said to have conspired with others and issued cheques and signed  in the names of the staff of the pension board to collect pensioner’s money from different banks.

The prosecution  said that the incident happened between September 2010 and January 2011 at Agodi Secretariat.

It further said  the offences contravened section 516,104 and 390(5) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo state of Nigeria, 2000.

The accused  had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.