EFCC Grills Oronsaye, Former HOS over Alleged N6Bn Pension Fraud

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives have questioned Steve Oronsaye, former head of the Civil Service of the Federation, for alleged N6.2billion pension scam during his tenure.

About N5billion in bogus contracts were allegedly awarded and payments made between January 2009 and November 2010 while Oronsaye was in office.

The scandal was uncovered in the Pension Unit of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Four companies are being investigated by the EFCC on the scandal. They are Frederick Hamilton Global Limited, Xangee Technologies, Fatidek Venture and Obanlado Enterprises.

The four companies were allegedly paid N399, 366,619 for biometrics for pensioners, even as no valid contract was awarded to the firms by the Federal Government.

Frederick Hamilton Global got N119, 398,500.00; Xangee Technologies (N153, 146,719.00); Fatidek Venture (N30, 056,000.00) and Obanlado Enterprises (N96, 765,400.00).

The EFCC was said to be acting on an allegation against Oronsaye that the four companies allegedly belong to his cronies.

Oronsaye has been answering detectives’ questions since December 7.

It was learnt that Mrs. Phina Chidi, former deputy director (Pension Account) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, raised the allegation against Oronsaye in a statement made to the EFCC.

Mrs. Chidi is on trial for alleged pension fraud, alongside many top directors. The EFCC had earlier obtained Interim Forfeiture Order to secure N500 million and $2 million traced to the accounts of Pam Investment Properties Limited, which is linked to Mrs. Chidi.

She is standing trial with a former Director of Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Sani Teidi Shuaibu, whose hotel in Abuja and four filling stations have been seized by the EFCC.

Chidi was alleged to have implicated Oronsaye in her testimony. The Nation stumbled on a document in which Chidi reportedly told EFCC investigators how she was mandated to shop for contractors who would make returns to Oronsaye through Shuaibu.

The document quoted Chidi as writing the following in her statement: “In addition to my statement on 11 January, 2011, I wish to state as follows: that I was asked by Dr. Shuaibu to shop for company names to execute our contracts, proceeds of which should be given to Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, the then Head of Service.”

She was said to have explained how such proceeds were warehoused in two banks before they were allegedly transferred to Oronsaye through Shuaibu.