• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Reps to issue order arrest of pension administrators, banks chiefs over N9 trillion scam

Reps-2

The House of Representatives Wednesday vowed to issue a bench warrant ordering the arrest of Pension Funds Administrators (PFA’s) over alleged misappropriation of about N9 trillion.

Emmanuel Agbonayinma Chairman, House Adhoc Committee probing into the activities of Pension Commission (PenCom) told journalists that the arrest warrants would be extended to Heads of Banks involved in the administration of the pension fund.

Agbonayinma explained that the measure remains the only available option that could be deployed to force the PFAs to appear before the Committee to explain their roles on the alleged misappropriation of the finances.

He accused the PFA’s of undermining the activities of his panel through subterranean means, noting that, it was hiding under the cover of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) to avoid the probe.

PenOp in a letter dated 2nd April, 2019 signed by the Executive Secretary, Susan Oranye outrightly informed the Committee that the PFA’s would not be able to attend a scheduled meeting of the Committee scheduled for 4th April, 2019 due to an industrial engagement slated for same day.

Displaying the letter before journalists, the Committee Chairman said, “it is on record that we have never written to PenOp to appear before the committee. So they have no business writing us back. To us, we believe this is a plot to derail the wheel of progress. This investigative hearing have to do with workers money deducted from their accounts over the years. We are not here to judge or indict anybody for now”.

He however, commended the Acting Director General of PENCOM, Aisha Dahir-Umar, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Societies groups for making available necessary documents to the Committee for thorough investigation.

 

James Kwen, Abuja