By Ismail Auwal
The Nigerian Military Pension Board has denied media reports that claimed nonpayment of death benefits to the families of 91NA/32/4128 Corporal Oladejo Joseph and 04NA/55/1726 Lance Corporal Sunday Orji.
The Board in a statement on Friday said it had paid the full benefits to the widows and some next of kin (NOKs) of some deceased soldiers contrary to false claims in a section of the media that the widows were suffering official neglect.
“For the purpose of emphasis, the death benefits of 91NA/32/4128 Corporal Oladejo Joseph was paid to the First Bank account of one Precious Joseph Ayomide who happens to be the daughter and recorded NOK of the deceased soldier in the Board’s database.”
“The death benefits of 04NA/55/1726 Lance Corporal Sunday Orji was also paid to the Guarantee Trust Bank account of Mrs Emilla Orji Sunday who is the wife and the recorded NOK of the deceased soldier”, the MPB said.
“This is because preliminary investigation carried out by the Military Pensions Board on the said allegation revealed that the death benefits of these two soldiers were paid to their recorded Next of Kins (NOKs) in December 2013 and November 2018 respectively.”
“For the purpose of emphasis, the death benefits of 91NA/32/4128 Corporal Oladejo Joseph was paid to the First Bank account of one Precious Joseph Ayomide who happens to be the daughter and recorded NOK of the deceased soldier in the Board’s database”
According to the statement, “The death benefits of 04NA/55/1726 Lance Corporal Sunday Orji was also paid to the Guarantee Trust Bank account of Mrs Emilla Orji Sunday who is the wife and the recorded NOK of the deceased soldier.”
“The account numbers and the amounts paid to these NOKs are not stated here in other to respect the confidentiality of such details but would be released if need be.”
“In view of the foregoing, the Military Pensions Board hereby request the publishers of this false story to immediately publish a rejoinder to set the records straight and to allay any fears this publication would have caused personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in particular, there NOks and Nigerians in general.
“Having stated this, the Board wishes to encourage pensioners, NOKs, well-meaning Nigerians and most importantly, members of the press to always contact the Board through its call center on 09087447782 or 09087994694 whenever in doubt about our processes and procedures, ” he noted
“Not minding this distraction, the Board remains resolute and will continue to sustain the prompt payment of all entitlements due to military retirees or their NOKs in a prompt and accountable manner.”
