Pension theft: Trial adjourned till next year

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Justice Bolaji Yusuf of the High court on Ring Road, Ibadan, capital of the western Nigerian state of Oyo today adjourned till 10 January, 2014 hearing of the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Head of Service, Mrs. Kudiratu Adeleke and 11 others over the N5.6billion pension fund fraud.

Other accused persons are: are Muili Hakeem Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Adesina Jimoh Ayoade, Oguntayo Banji, Adebiyi Musediq Olasunmbo, Muili Adedamola, Adeduntan Johnson, Johnson Bosede, Kareem Rasheed, Olujimi Adebayo and Adewale Kehinde.

All the accused except women were brought to the court in handcuffs.

Apart from Mrs. Adeleke, the other 11 accused persons are officials of the Oyo State Local Government Pension Board who were alleged to have stolen N5.6b pension fund meant to pay the entitlements of retired teachers in the state.

The court which was slated to commence the accelerated hearing could not do so because the lawyers to the defendants informed the court that they had appealed the court ruling which objected to their bail applications.

The court today ordered that the accused be remanded in Agodi Prisons, pending the determination of the suit.

The court was forced to adjourn till next year when some defendant lawyers claimed that they had not received some papers filed.