Alleged Pension Scam: Kashim Imam Calls on EFCC to Arrest Duru

• Says ex-lawamker is Fraudulent

By Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

Former Presidential Liaison Officer (PLO) and interim Board Chairman of First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL), Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim Imam, has described as ‘’fraudulent’’, the claim by the former Vice-Chairman of the company, Nze Chidi Duru, that he (Duru), was the chief promoter of the company.

Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take urgent steps to arrest and prosecute the ex-lawmaker – in line with its indictment of Duru, he said that against the wish of Duru who was out to destroy the pension administrator, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) saved the company from his hands.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Kashim Imam described Duru as a ‘’fraudulent Nigerian’’, who betrayed the trust and confidence reposed on him, noting that it was surprising that Duru had not been sent to prison, four years after all his fraudulent activities were investigated and established, and subsequently indicted by the PenCom.

The FGPL’s interim chairman said by 2011 when Duru exited the company after eight years, following his indictment, the company’s account was in red to the tune of N385 million, adding that, following the intervention of PenCom — the regulatory body, an interim management was formed and the assets of the company had been grown to about N140 billion, with profit of over N3billion, in four years.

Explaining how the pension administrator was formed, Kashim Imam said that technically speaking, Duru, could not even be said to have invested a dime in the business.

‘’But we did not know this, until much later. The deposit we were supposed to make, that is the initial capital, was never contributed by him. I agree with you, we ought to have verified this ab initio, this we did not do based on trust’’, the FGPL’s interim board chairman stated.

‘’But like I said, findings later showed that all the cheques he issued for the payment of his own share of the initial deposit, were never presented for clearance. As a matter of fact, another of his friend, Nnamdi Anammah, a supposed investor, is also guilty of the same thing.

‘’In all, they both issued seven different cheques, totalling N62 million, but sadly, the money could not be traced in the company’s account.’’

He added that Duru issued three different cheques, of N10million each, of Guardian Express Bank, with nos: 221 and 227 and another Diamond bank cheque, while his friend, Anammah issued two UBA plc cheques nos: 3 and 18833, of N10million and N2million respectively, Zenith Bank cheque number 23, for N10million and Reliance Bank ltd cheque number 194 , also for N10 million.

Kashim Imam further added that when a few of the shareholders pulled out, Duru refunded their money to them, issuing cheques in the name of the company to such persons, and appropriating their shares, as his own.

‘’As a matter of fact, it was my papers that were filed and verified at incorporation. The fit and proper person’s test was duly conducted on my person and integrity’’, he added.

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