Anambra civil servant embezzles N66.5m pensioners money

The Anambra State Government has uncovered a fraud of N66.5m perpetrated by an officer of the Sub-Treasury of Aguata Local Government.According to a Government House statement on Wednesday, the indicted officer, Mr. Innocent Ezeonwuka, has confessed to the crime. But the statement said the man alleged that he was hypnotised by fraudsters to part with the money.The statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem said, Investigations carried out following complaints and petitions from pensioners over non-payment of their gratuities, revealed the misappropriation of the fund meant for the payment of gratuities to the retirees, between June 2009 and June 2011.According to the report of the investigation, the laid down procedure is that at the end of every month, a list containing names of retirees to be paid their gratuities. The list with corresponding funds are sent to the Sub-Treasuries for implementation with general instruction to sub-treasurers to paste the names of benefiting pensioners at a conspicuous location in the Sub-Treasury for the pensioners to take note of remittance of funds for their gratuities. It uncovered that instead of following the laid down instruction, the officer allegedly hid this from the pensioners to enable him to perpetrate the fraud.When contacted, the Accountant General of the state, Mr. R.H.C. Ogbogu, confirmed the allegation, adding that his office was taking necessary action on the matter. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communication, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubabuko, also confirmed the development.He said, When Governor Obi took over, he cleared the arrears owed pensioners and gratuities by governors he succeeded. Today in Anambra, it takes two or three months for retirees to get their benefits.It is unfortunate that somebody would want to disrupt this harmony by embezzling the money meant for pensioners.It is being handled in such a manner that those responsible will go in for it while pensioners will not be allowed to suffer due to the greed of some civil servants that do not have conscience.But the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, denied knowledge of the matter. When I come back from Anaku, I will find out if it had been reported to the command, he said.
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