Kogi investigates 5 over N230m pension fraud

Kogi State government is currently investigating five top officers of the state Pension Board for allegedly diverting N230million pension funds.

The Auditor-General for Local Government in  the  state, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo,   said  this while speaking on the ‘Radio Kogi guest forum programme’ in Lokoja, the state capital, on Saturday.

Ododo, who is a member of the staff verification exercise in  the  state, said the fraud was discovered in  the course of the committee’s findings.

He said the five officers that are under investigation would refund the money if found guilty of the allegation at the end of the  investigation.

He said they would also be made to face the wrath of the law so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Local Government   Auditor-General commended the state government in its effort to wipe  out ghost workers   on government pay roll.

He  said  that the ongoing screening of civil servants and pensioners in the state was equally meant to block leakages in the system.

Ododo gave an assurance that all genuine workers and pensioners on government pay roll would be cleared for immediate payment of their salaries and pension owed them.

“The screening of workers and pensioners is going to be a continuous exercise. No authentic staff or pensioner would have any cause to fear Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration in the state as it has high regard for both workers and pensioners. The ongoing verification of its workforce is not aimed at victimising any body but an effort targeted at saving money for the state,” he said.