By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Some pensioners in Ekiti State have backed the report of the national body of the union indicting the former Chairman, Joel Akinola of financial misappropriation.
The Pensioners in a statement jointly signed by Laleye Lashore, Ex Officio, Ado Local Government Branch, Jide Bello, PRO core Civil Servant Pensioners and Mr Ogunsakin Ayodele, Ado Chairman, NUP, affirmed that the report of the committee was in order.
The committee set up to investigate the financial misappropriation against the former executive had indicted the chairman, Joel Akinola and other executive members and also recommended their disqualification from the forth coming election.
The Audit Panel Committee set up by the National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has accused the embattled former Chairman of the union in Ekiti State, Comrade Joel Akinola and his Trustee of embezzlement.
This was contained in the findings of the Committee to probe and audit the finance of the Union after the inconclusive State Delegates Congress on 28th November, 2025.
According to their findings, “the committee also established that the chairman and the Trustee cannot adequately account for the sum of over 16 million Naira claimed to have been expended on the 2024 pensioners day including the N10m donation from the State Government.
“The committee made some far reaching recommendations which include; That a sum N6,072,800 from the pensioner’s aso ebi [uniform] be refunded immediately by the trio of the Chairman, Treasurer and Trustee I.
“That on their eligibility for the upcoming State Delegates Conference, the following SAC Members are recommended to be disqualified: State Chairman – Mr Joel Akinola, Vice Chairman – Mr Olawumi Owoeye, State Treasurer – Mr Olowojebutu, Trustee I – Mr Olayemi Oluropo, State Auditor – Mr Olakunle Ogunlusi.
“They should be suspended from holding ANY Union Office for a period of Four Years based on their attitudes and personal confessions that they don’t know how to administer a Union before now.
“That the State Executive Council may still set up a detailed auditing panel to look into other financial issues that the committee may not have covered because of the time given to the committee.”
The statement warns the former Chairman and his loyalists to abide by the decision of the committee and disist from actions capable of affecting the peace and image of the Union.
Meanwhile, some pensioners loyal to the immediate past Chairman, Mr Joel Akinola have against the report of the committee, saying those indicted were not given fair hearing.