….calls for retraction, apology inside of 24 hours over alleged private assaults at the State Executive
The Kogi State Pension Fee has disclosed that ₦278.07 million has been paid to fifteen retired judicial officials who’re but to obtain their complete gratuity entitlements, whilst difficult allegations in regards to the dealing with of retirement advantages within the state.
The Fee, in a press commentary issued on Saturday and signed via its Director-Normal, Hajia Mariam Ozioma Abedo, stated the bills have been constructed from January to this point consistent with verified entitlements and to be had govt sources.
The commentary was once a reaction to a e-newsletter dated October 23, 2026, attributed to Mr. Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, a Senior Recommend of Nigeria and previous Legal professional-Normal of Oyo State, in regards to the retirement entitlements of retired judicial officials in Kogi State.
Whilst asserting the suitable of voters and criminal practitioners to call for duty and recommend the fee of reputable retirement advantages, the Fee faulted what it described as offensive language, sweeping allegations and private assaults towards Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and different public officers.
The Fee maintained that reputable retirement advantages are tasks of presidency and that the management recognises the contributions of retired judicial officials to the management of justice and the safety of voters’ rights. It stated exceptional gratuity balances must now not be interpreted as proof that the federal government is adversarial to the judiciary or unwilling to fulfil its tasks.
“The rank of Senior Recommend of Nigeria is a mark {of professional} difference that carries commensurate obligations. It’s no licence to insult public workplace holders, speculate about their motives or change provocative language for verifiable proof,” the commentary stated.
The Fee instructed Mr. Adebayo to spot any particular beneficiary or class of entitlement he believes has been wrongly treated and search explanation from the proper government. It defined that the state govt will have to stability its tasks to retirees with the investment of salaries, pensions, roads, colleges, hospitals, safety and different very important public services and products.
The commentary additionally rejected descriptions allegedly used towards Governor Ododo, together with “puppet”, “effigy”, “pawn”, “toy” and “breastfeeding” Governor, arguing that such expressions don’t identify whether or not any retirement entitlement has been wrongly withheld or any fee choice improperly influenced.
At the allegation that former Governor Yahaya Bello controls the incumbent Governor and would save you the fee of judicial officials’ entitlements, the Fee challenged Mr. Adebayo to supply credible proof.
“If Mr. Adebayo possesses credible proof {that a} explicit fee choice has been improperly influenced, he must determine that proof and provide it thru the proper channels. Severe allegations call for severe proof,” the commentary added.
The Fee stressed out that Governor Ododo’s management stays open to reputable public scrutiny however insisted that grievance must be grounded in verifiable information and reasoned arguments.
It referred to as on Mr. Adebayo to withdraw the alleged abusive descriptions and unsupported private allegations towards Governor Ododo and previous Governor Yahaya Bello inside of 24 hours of the e-newsletter of its rejoinder, put up an unequivocal apology thru the similar channels used to flow into the unique e-newsletter, and right kind the explicit statement that no bills were made to retired judicial officials.
The Fee warned that failure to conform inside the stipulated length would instructed it to post formal petitions towards Mr. Adebayo to the Criminal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and the Criminal Practitioners Privileges Committee for attention. It stated the language and private allegations within the e-newsletter raised issues concerning the requirements of restraint, dignity {and professional} accountability anticipated of a criminal practitioner, specifically person who has attained the rank of Senior Recommend of Nigeria.
The Fee reaffirmed its dedication to attractive with retired judicial officials and different pensioners over their verified entitlements, including that the federal government would proceed to pursue its tasks thru accountable management, correct monetary control and positive engagement.
“The general public merits correct data. Retired judicial officials deserve dignity and the agreement in their reputable entitlements. Public discourse merits the self-discipline of proof, the energy of reasoned argument and admire for the obligations that accompany skilled difference,” the commentary concluded.