The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a retiree, Mr. Nyong Major, over his alleged involvement in pension fraud.
Major, who retired from the Federal Ministry of Justice, after 32 years in service was said to have corruptly received pensions from the National Youth Service Corps where he never worked.
He was accused of receiving a total of N667.871.43, over a period of eight years, as pension from NYSC beside his entitled pension from the Ministry of Justice.
The offence according to a statement by ICPC’s Spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, was committed between May 2010 and April 2018, adding that the fraud was uncovered in 2018 during a verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.
She added that the offence contravened Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and is punishable under Section 68 of the same Act.
Major was said to have pleaded not guilty to the offence, claiming that he was collecting the money on behalf of an uncle, one Lawrence Major, who retired from the NYSC as a gardener.
One of the charges according to the statement read in part, “That you Nyong Effiong Major, sometime between May 2010 and April 2018 or thereabout in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did receive the sum of N667,871.43 which was obtained by an act constituting a felony to wit: obtaining by false pretence, knowing that the money had been so obtained and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
His counsel, M. Adejuwon, in an oral application, prayed the court to grant him bail on health grounds.
The bail application was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, N. Onwuka, as she told the court that all offences under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 were bailable.
The trial judge, Justice H. Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court admitted him to bail in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum.
The matter was then adjourned to 29th March 2022 for commencement of hearing.
