Primary school teachers salary totaling N18.7 billion paid into 'unknown' account

olamide oni

November 13, 2015 4:51 PM

Salaries of Primary school teachers totaling about N18.7 billion has been paid into an unknown account in Benue state.

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom

A commission of inquiry in Benue led by Justice Elizabeth Kpojime revealed this on Wednesday. According to their report, Benue State Bureau for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs made the payment into an account with First Bank in Makurdi.

Report by Punch revealed that, when asked about the disappearance of the money, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr. Emmanuel Ikpe could not give a satisfactory answer. He had problems giving the identity of the owner of the account the money was paid into.

He explained that N1.8bn monthly salaries of primary school teachers owed between October 2013 and June 2014, was lodged in the fixed deposit account number 1017993231 with First Bank.

He admitted that the money was paid into the account, but when the bureau approached the bank to demand who the account belonged to, they refused to divulge the information.

Another questions that Mr. Ikpe could not give an answer to was why the bureau paid N4.6bn and N5bn in in May and June last year respectively to an account. His response was that the former accountants of the Bureau Isaiah Ipevnor and Sambe, were in the best position to explain.

Other financial anomalies was brought up during this inquiry but Ikpe has requested for time to look into the records before he can give a satisfactory answer.

Ikpe is expected to continue testifying and to present the document requested by the commission.

olamide oni