From GBENGA ADESUYI, Ibadan
Former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaja Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo and 11 others were yesterday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Oyo State High Court sitting at Ring Road in Ibadan.
They were alleged to have stolen the sum of N5.6 billion meant for pensioners in the state.
Others arraigned with the former Head of Service are Muili Hakkem Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adeduntan Johnson, Oguntayo Banji and Kareem Rasheed .
Muili Adedamola, Adisa Jimoh Ayoade, Adebiyi Olasunbo, Musendiku, Adewale Kehinde and Olujimi Adebayo.
They were arraigned on a 213-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and criminal breach of trust. They all pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The aggrieved retirees carried placards with inscriptions critical of the accused persons.
According to the charge sheet, the accused persons allegedly withdrew the sums from accounts belonging to the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board in Fin Bank (now First City Monument Bank), Zenith Bank and Stanbic/IBTC bank between September 2010 and January 2011.
The accounts were opened to effect payment of the pension and gratuities of retired local government workers in the state.
Until she was appointed the state Head of Service by the then governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Mrs. Adeleke was the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state. The accused persons were alleged to have forged receipts to enable them use the names of authentic retirees and use same to process their monies in the bank.
For over six hours, the accused persons were in the dock taking their pleas.
However, efforts to secure bail for them were unsuccessful as the court preferred formal application, due to the sensitive nature of the case and the number of the accused persons .
After listening to counsel from all sides, Justice Bolaji Yusuf adjourned till November 14 for hearing of bail applications. She also ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
Meanwhile, hundreds of aged and angry pensioners in Oyo State yesterday, stormed the premises of the State High Court, Ibadan, to protest against those allegedly involved in the pension fraud.
Among the protesters were retired primary school teachers, local government staff and many others.
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