As controversy continues to trail
the state pardon granted some ex-convicts, the military authorities will pay a
whopping N1.01 billion as gratuities to ex-military top brass convicted of
staging a phantom coup against the administration of the late Gen Sani Abacha.
the state pardon granted some ex-convicts, the military authorities will pay a
whopping N1.01 billion as gratuities to ex-military top brass convicted of
staging a phantom coup against the administration of the late Gen Sani Abacha.
President Goodluck Jonathan,
through the National Council of State, had pardoned the former chief of staff,
Supreme Headquarters, the late Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar‘Adua; Abacha’s number
two man, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya; Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu,
Maj.-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Col. Edwin Jando,
Major Segun Fadipe and a few others.
through the National Council of State, had pardoned the former chief of staff,
Supreme Headquarters, the late Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar‘Adua; Abacha’s number
two man, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya; Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu,
Maj.-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Col. Edwin Jando,
Major Segun Fadipe and a few others.
The details of the payment are:
Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (N27.75m); Maj.-Gen. A.K. Adisa (N166.5m); Lt.
Gen. D. O. Diya (N402.18m); Mag.-Gen. A. T. Olarenwaju (N291.44m); Col. E. L.
Jando (N27.5m); Col. Y. Bako (N27.5m); Lt. Col. O. O. Akinyode (N25m); Major A.
A. Fadipe (N19m); Major B. M. Mohammed (N19m); and L/Cpl. Galadima Tanko
(N4.35m).
Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (N27.75m); Maj.-Gen. A.K. Adisa (N166.5m); Lt.
Gen. D. O. Diya (N402.18m); Mag.-Gen. A. T. Olarenwaju (N291.44m); Col. E. L.
Jando (N27.5m); Col. Y. Bako (N27.5m); Lt. Col. O. O. Akinyode (N25m); Major A.
A. Fadipe (N19m); Major B. M. Mohammed (N19m); and L/Cpl. Galadima Tanko
(N4.35m).
The annual emolument of a major
general and its equivalent is N13,896,234 while the monthly salary is
N1,153,869.50.
general and its equivalent is N13,896,234 while the monthly salary is
N1,153,869.50.
Gen. Yar’Adua was convicted in
1995 but died two years later, in 1997. He was denied his pension, first, as a
retired major general and, second, as a former vice president. So the
government would pay his family about N27 million.
1995 but died two years later, in 1997. He was denied his pension, first, as a
retired major general and, second, as a former vice president. So the
government would pay his family about N27 million.
Since Diya and co were convicted
in 1997 and Adisa died in 2005, it means he was entitled to about N166.5m
(seven years of pension amounts to N97.069m and five years’ gratuity of
N65.38m). General Tajudeen Olanrewaju would now be entitled to N222m for all
the years he was denied his pension and another N69.38m as his gratuity.
in 1997 and Adisa died in 2005, it means he was entitled to about N166.5m
(seven years of pension amounts to N97.069m and five years’ gratuity of
N65.38m). General Tajudeen Olanrewaju would now be entitled to N222m for all
the years he was denied his pension and another N69.38m as his gratuity.
General Diya would be paid about
N402.18million (N334.8m of his unpaid salary and five years of his annual
salary of about N69.38million as his gratuity. Other lower-rank officers like
Seun Fadipe, Edwin Jando and a host of others would only be paid five years’
cumulative of their annual salaries as their gratuity as they are not entitled
to annual pension unlike the major generals and above.
N402.18million (N334.8m of his unpaid salary and five years of his annual
salary of about N69.38million as his gratuity. Other lower-rank officers like
Seun Fadipe, Edwin Jando and a host of others would only be paid five years’
cumulative of their annual salaries as their gratuity as they are not entitled
to annual pension unlike the major generals and above.
LEADERSHIP has it on a good
authority that some of those ex-military officers are living in abject poverty
due to the non-payment of their pensions and gratuity. General Adisa was said
to have lost all when one of his trusted friends (name withheld) duped him of
all his wealth that was not forfeited while in prison. All efforts made to
retrieve them from this friend who hails from the south-west were fruitless
before he died. A friend of the late minister of works categorically said,
“Major General Adisa died in frustration. He and Major General Olanrewaju tried
all they could during the Obasanjo era to have the state pardon as ordered by
Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar but this was not done.”
authority that some of those ex-military officers are living in abject poverty
due to the non-payment of their pensions and gratuity. General Adisa was said
to have lost all when one of his trusted friends (name withheld) duped him of
all his wealth that was not forfeited while in prison. All efforts made to
retrieve them from this friend who hails from the south-west were fruitless
before he died. A friend of the late minister of works categorically said,
“Major General Adisa died in frustration. He and Major General Olanrewaju tried
all they could during the Obasanjo era to have the state pardon as ordered by
Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar but this was not done.”
As exclusively reported by
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday, with the new development, the army would restore
the ranks of every beneficiary of the order and pay them their gratuities and
pensions as allowed by law.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY yesterday, with the new development, the army would restore
the ranks of every beneficiary of the order and pay them their gratuities and
pensions as allowed by law.
Reacting to the story, a serving
military top brass who sought anonymity explained to our correspondent how the
affected military officers including the families of those that have died like
Gen Yar’ Adua, Adisa and Akiode would be compensated.
military top brass who sought anonymity explained to our correspondent how the
affected military officers including the families of those that have died like
Gen Yar’ Adua, Adisa and Akiode would be compensated.
He said: “Before that state pardon
was granted, I am sure the government must have calculated the political,
economic and social implications. Let me tell you that those former officers
are in big money. What they have now is more than winning a jackpot. Their
gratuities would be paid based on the prevailing annual emoluments while those
that have died like Gen Yar’Adua and Adisa would have a cumulative five years
of their gratuities paid as their life pension to their families.
was granted, I am sure the government must have calculated the political,
economic and social implications. Let me tell you that those former officers
are in big money. What they have now is more than winning a jackpot. Their
gratuities would be paid based on the prevailing annual emoluments while those
that have died like Gen Yar’Adua and Adisa would have a cumulative five years
of their gratuities paid as their life pension to their families.
“Gen Diya that is alive, being a
former No. 2 man, that is the equivalent of the vice president, who is entitled
to a brand new car every four years, the government would calculate the number
of four years he was denied and then monetize it because they would not give
him many cars again. Then, again as a former No. 2 man, whatever every living
former vice president is entitled to monthly would be given to him.”
former No. 2 man, that is the equivalent of the vice president, who is entitled
to a brand new car every four years, the government would calculate the number
of four years he was denied and then monetize it because they would not give
him many cars again. Then, again as a former No. 2 man, whatever every living
former vice president is entitled to monthly would be given to him.”
“The same thing would be done to
Akiode who died while serving his jail term. He was a Lt Col when he died. But
since he was not yet a major general, he would only receive five years of his
annual salary as his gratuities. Only major-generals and above are entitled to
their annual salaries after retirement.”
Akiode who died while serving his jail term. He was a Lt Col when he died. But
since he was not yet a major general, he would only receive five years of his
annual salary as his gratuities. Only major-generals and above are entitled to
their annual salaries after retirement.”
Source: Leadership
