Criminal Moves
to Swindle N7bn Delta Workers'
Salaries Uncovered
Today, the
Delta State Government seemed to have uncovered a swift attempt by some criminal
syndicates to allegedly defraud billions of naira from the workers' salaries.
Accordingly,
the gang wanted to swindle from the salary vouchers for the state ministries,
department and agencies.
At
least five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident even as
the security personnel began searching for other accomplices believed to be at
large.
The
state govt through the Commissioner for Finance, Mr David Edevbie, today in
Asaba stated that the shock discovery of the planned fraud has delayed payment
of salaries to state employees.
This
is coming at the heels of approval by the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, of N372.9million for
the payment of fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations
(WASSCE) and National Business and Technical Board (NABTEB) examinations for
students in senior post-primary and vocational schools across the state.
In
a statement read on his behalf by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr
Patrick Ukah, the finance commissioner disclosed that as soon as the hint on
the huge financial fraud reached him last Wednesday, the governor swiftly
ordered an investigation.
Edevbie
maintained that the state "Permanent Secretary cum
Accountant-General" had received vital information about the criminal plot
or threat on the said date and immediately alerted the governor who promptly directed
the police and the relevant bank to swing into action.
"He
also directed the Permanent Secretary to put in plac additional control
measures to forestall future attempts on the account."
Nonetheless,
the finance commissioner stressed that Okowa was determined to run a
transparent and corruption-free administration as well as ensure that its
workers were paid promptly and regularly.
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