ASABA/Nigeria: The Chairman of the Delta State Bureau for Pensions, Sir Edwin E. Ogidi-Gbegbaje (KSM), has issued a stern warning to those involved in defrauding pensioners and their families, stating that the government is intensifying efforts to bring such scammers to justice.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, during a courtesy visit by members of the Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje, flanked by Directors of the Board, emphasized that the Bureau under his leadership has zero tolerance for corruption and unscrupulous activities.
He warned individuals engaged in defrauding retirees of their hard-earned pensions to desist immediately, as the Bureau is committed to protecting the interests of pensioners and will not compromise on integrity. He stressed that no staff member is permitted to solicit or accept bribes from retirees.
The Chairman recounted a recent incident involving a scammer named James Onoja Pen, who, using the phone number 07070764813, demanded N45,000 from a retiree to expedite pension payments. Ogidi-Gbegbaje revealed that when the number was checked on Truecaller, it identified the caller as “James Onoja Fraud.”
Addressing the issue, he stated, “It may have happened in the past, but not here. A person came to us regarding his late mother’s pension and reported receiving a call from someone who accurately had the information about his mother but demanded N45,000 to release the funds quickly”.
“I’ve obtained the name of the person behind that call, and I strongly advise against giving any form of gratification for processing pensions. Anyone caught doing so will face serious consequences.”
He also dismissed any allegations of a cartel within the Board involved in pension scams, asserting, “That person is not our staff.”
Ogidi-Gbegbaje reaffirmed the commitment of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration to the welfare of pensioners, noting that the government places high value on their well-being and is determined to alleviate their challenges.
