EFCC arrests Military officers for diverting Soldiers’ death benefits

For allegedly opening fake accounts to divert N339m benefits, The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two military officers and four others for allegedly opening fake accounts to divert N339million benefits of next-of-kin of deceased military officers and men within two months.

Two other suspects are at large as the commission launches a manhunt for them. Some of those whose benefits were diverted are said to have died in the course of the  war against Boko Haram in the Northeast. According to investigation, the officers arrested were from the Military Pension Board including a Wing Commander and Lt. commander. Their other accomplices were Branch Manager and Relationship Manager of United Bank for Africa (UBA). It was gathered that the auditors of UBA raised the alarm when its auditors discovered that huge parts of the funds were “cashed across the counter in a suspicious manner.” Based on the alert by the bank, the EFCC stepped in to crack how the fraud was perpetrated.

A top source in EFCC said: “We have arrested a serving Wing Commander, a Lt. Commander and four others for N339million death benefit of some deceased military officers and men. Two others are at large but we have watch-listed them.

“The affected military officers were both cashier and computer operator in Military Pension Board and they connived with six others to carry out the fraud in UBA branch, Wuse Zone 3 branch. Between April and June 2016, they opened accounts where benefits of the next-of-kins of deceased military men were diverted into. In fact, under two months, N339million was withdrawn and wired into more than 11 accounts. The withdrawal was in two tranches of N298million and N41million. The Auditors of the bank observed suspicious withdrawal of huge chunk of the cash from  across the counter.

The source claimed that all the suspects have admitted their involvement in the crime. The source added: “During the investigation, the Branch Manager and the Relationship Manager confessed and admitted opening these slush accounts.

Some existing accounts of customers and the friends of the suspects were also used to divert the funds. Findings confirmed that the husbands of the two bank officials benefitted from the death benefit fraud.

Two suspects, who are personal friends of the Branch Manager and Relationship Manager are at large. But we have watch-listed them. We will soon arrest them. The military officers also admitted to have colluded and conspired with the bank officials to use the slush accounts for the fraud. These serving military officers incorporated a company each and funds were wired into the accounts of their companies. This is so so sad that while others are dieing in the NE some are under AC in Abuja eating their benefit.