Moments after the Imo State government through the governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma made public about eight names suspected to be involved in the alleged pension fraud rocking payment of retirees in Imo State, few of those whose names either appeared or similar to the ones mentioned have come out to debunk the allegation.
Armed with certain evidences to buttress their points, the retirees issued a disclaimer.
From what Trumpeta gathered Mr. Herbert Ahaotu Ajokubi is a pensioner of the Imo State Government who hails from Ogbaku in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.
According to information available to the newspaper, Mr. Herbert retired as a Secondary School Principal from Secondary Education Management Board in 2008 at GL 15.
His monthly pension since retirement is not in excess of 60 thousand Naira and has only received that of January and February since the inception of this Government.
Also attached to below are Statements of account from all bank accounts linked to his BVN showing clearly that at no time has any money either from the State Government or any individual to the tune of 5 Million Naira has ever entered his account.
Similarly, another pensioner, named Obasi Canice Onwudi, who hails from Umucheke Okire in Onuimo LGA has this to say,
“For the Purpose of setting the records straight, I was embarrassed when I saw what looks like my name in the recent list of eight names published by the Imo State Government said to be involved in Pension fraud.
“My Initial reaction was dismissive because I thought it must be case of mistaken identity. But a tabular publication stating my full names convinced me that a tragic drama is playing out and something unthinkable is happening with my name.
“I retired from the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB)Owerri in April 2013,on Salary Grade 16,Step 9.
“My annual pension as stated in Authority for payment letter issued to me by Office of the Head of Service, dated 18th September 2013,is #1,524,399.64. This translates to monthly pension of #127,033.3.
“My gratuity as contained in the same Head of Service Authorization letter is 5,685,596.67.
“I want to categorically state that since I started receiving since 2013, which has not been regular, I have never been paid anything more than my statutory amount.
“For the avoidance of doubt let me also inform the listening public that the Imo State Government has not paid a kobo of my gratuity to me.
“Let my Friends and well wishers all over the State be rest assured that I will never be associated with fraud and can never and please they should help me to request the Imo State Government to track down the people who used my name to perpetrate this Crime.
Meanwhile, following an unsubstantiated announcement that pensioners with payment issues should report their complains to the AGs office, pensioners in Imo State yesterday, 9/7/2020, besieged the office of the Accountant- General with lorry loads of problems.
As early as eight o’clock in the morning when the pensioners gathered till 3.30pm, nobody government official either from AGs office or Government House had come to address the pensioners.
After wondering like uncontrolled flock, a list of requirements emerged from nowhere. The so- called requirements included date of birth certificate, pension ID card, rank on retirement, grade level on retirement, establishment on retirement, date of first of appointment, effective date of retirement, letter of authorization and verification print out.
When Trumpeta arrived the premises, the pensioners who were obviously looking confused, complained of multiplicity in the said requirements just as many said that apart from pension identity card and birth certificate, other requirements are in the letter of authorization.
Meanwhile, some pensioners have received alerts for various months. While some have been paid March and April, some have received May and June just as many have not gotten anything since they were verified by the Ihedioha regime.
In another development, the Secretary of the Pensioners Intervention Committee (PIC), Comrade MC Amaechi says the pensioners would continue their protest until all wrongs are put in the right perspectives.
Speaking in an interview with Trumpeta , Comrade Amaechi condemned the present style of payment where some will be paid and others not paid.
