Pension thief: EFCC arraigns health provider in Kano

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned one Dr. M.O Shona of Mos-Metro Hospital, Tudunwada, Sabon Gari, Kano, before Justice Nuhu Y. Galandanci of State High Court, Kano, on one count charge bordering on advance fee fraud.

The accused allegedly defrauded his former employee of her pension contributions over a ten year period. The victim, Mrs. Elizabeth Ekodi alleged that she worked with Mos-Metro Hospital as a nurse from 2005 to 2015 during which she was enrolled by the hospital management into the compulsory contributory Pension Scheme with NPLC Pension Fund Administrator. She further stated that deductions were made from her salary during the period but upon termination of her appointment, she went to her Pension Administrator to collect her contributions only to discover that no remittance was made into her account.

The charge reads: “That you Dr. Michael O. Shona and MOS-Metro Hospital Limited between 2009 and 2015 at Kano within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kano state with the intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N 715,800.30 from one Elizabeth Ekodi ( former staff of MOS-Metro hospital limited) being part of her contributory pensions scheme on the pretence that you will remit same to her Pension Fund Administrators which pretence you knew to be false thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.