A retired teacher in Sokoto State was shocked to find out that his gratuity had long being paid but diverted by one of the management staff of the Sokoto Primary Teachers Pension Board.
The ex-teacher (name withheld) was among the people invited by the Sokoto zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning over the N553.9 million allegedly diverted by staff of the board.
“When he was shown a voucher prepared in his name and the money collected without him in the know, he became mad and started crying uncontrollably,” the Zonal Head of EFCC, Usman Bawa Kaltungo told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE.
” He demanded to know who did that to him so that he could kill him even if doing that would lead to his death too.
“The retired teacher said that he could not fend for his family because of poverty as this is his last hope.
“He told us that he retired some years ago and he could not send his children to school or feed his family because of his financial condition.”
Kaltungo explained further that they received a petition from one Isiyaku, a retired teacher, alleging that his pension had not been paid for years.
“We then swung into action and in the process of our investigation, we discovered that vouchers in the names of retired teachers were raised and the sum of N553.985,644.1 was withdrawn and shared among a few staff of the board.
The accused staff include Abubakar Aliyu, Hassana Moyi, Haliru Ahmad, Kabiru Ahmad and Dahiru Muhammad Isa who were Secretary, Director of Finance and Supply, Deputy Director of Finance and Supply, Accountant and Cashier of the board respectively.
According to Kaltungo, the money were withdrawn in trenches, explaining further that, between January,17, 2017 and March, 2020, the Director of Finance withdrew the sum of N83.2 million from their account with Polaris bank.
“During the same period, Haliru and Kabiru withdrew 203,217,770.71 and 266,567,053 respectively from the same account in the name of pensioners,” he said.
The suspects, 21st Century learnt that were arraigned before the Sokoto High Court on 28 count-charge of misappropriation, criminal breach of trust among others.
The case was adjourned till June, 28 for the continuation of trial.
