Posted by ABIODUN ADELAJA, Abuja on
ARMY pension authorities insisted yesterday that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Victor Malu was overpaid his arrears and is even indebted to the military.
ARMY pension authorities insisted yesterday that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Victor Malu was overpaid his arrears and is even indebted to the military.
The position came on the heels of a major setback suffered by a bill seeking to establish an Armed Forces Service Commission which was unanimously rejected by the House of Representatives, yesterday.
Chairman, military pensions board Group Captain Adamu Kachiro, in a statement in Abuja, said that the former Army chief is not owed any pension arrears.
He explained that following Gen. Malu's complaint to Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Martin Luther Agwai the latter directed that the former Army Chief be promptly paid his gratuity and pension which payment, amounting to N12.215 million, was made through Fountain Trust Bank cheque number 00332868.
Group Captain Kachiro, however, said his search through the archives revealed that Gen. Malu had earlier, been paid N9.88 million meaning, according to him that the retired general was paid more than his actual entitlements.
"So in essence, Gen. Malu was to start drawing monthly pension with effect from January, 2005 if not for the double payment made to him."
"All attempts to recover the money were made before we went public. As someone we hold in esteem, I contacted General Malu personally on the phone when the overpayment was discovered.
"Subsequently the senior officer was in my office and the facts were presented before him. Gen. Malu consented to the overpayment and promised to refund the excess money.
"I was therefore surprised that the General went public to say that he is yet to be paid his pensions," Kachiro said.