Kogi pays ₦278m to 15 retired judicial officers, demands Adebayo’s apology

By Admin

The Kogi State Pension Commission says it has paid ₦278.07 million to 15 retired judicial officers awaiting full gratuity settlements, while demanding a retraction and public apology from Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, over his allegations concerning the handling of retirement benefits in the state.

The Commission said the payments were made between January and October 2026 in line with verified entitlements and available government resources.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Director-General, Hajia Mariam Ozioma Abedo, the Commission was responding to a publication dated October 23, 2026, attributed to Adebayo, a former Attorney-General of Oyo State, concerning the outstanding retirement benefits of former judicial officers in Kogi.

While acknowledging the right of citizens and legal practitioners to demand accountability and advocate the settlement of legitimate retirement entitlements, the Commission faulted what it described as offensive language, sweeping allegations and personal attacks against Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, and other public officials.

It maintained that outstanding gratuity balances should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of hostility towards the judiciary or unwillingness by the government to fulfil its obligations.

According to the Commission, legitimate retirement benefits remain government obligations, and the Ododo administration recognises the contributions of retired judicial officers to the administration of justice and the protection of citizens’ rights.

“The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a mark of professional distinction that carries commensurate responsibilities. It is no licence to insult public office holders, speculate about their motives or substitute provocative language for verifiable evidence,” the statement said.

The Commission urged Adebayo to identify specific beneficiaries or categories of entitlements he believes have been wrongly handled and seek clarification from the relevant authorities.

It explained that the state government must balance its obligations to retirees with funding for salaries, pensions, roads, schools, hospitals, security and other essential public services.

The statement also rejected descriptions allegedly used against Ododo, including “puppet”, “effigy”, “pawn” and “toy”, as well as the expression “breastfeeding” Governor.

According to the Commission, such descriptions do not establish whether any retirement entitlement has been improperly withheld or whether payment decisions have been influenced by inappropriate considerations.

It also challenged Adebayo to provide credible evidence for his alleged assertion that former Governor Bello exercises control over Ododo and would prevent the payment of retired judicial officers’ entitlements.

“If Adebayo possesses credible evidence that a particular payment decision has been improperly influenced, he should identify that evidence and present it through the appropriate channels. Serious allegations demand serious evidence,” the statement added.

The Commission said the state government remained open to legitimate public scrutiny but insisted that criticism of public officials should be based on verifiable facts and reasoned arguments.

24 – Hours Ultimatum

The Commission called on Adebayo to withdraw the alleged abusive descriptions and unsupported personal allegations against Ododo and Bello within 24 hours of the publication of its rejoinder.

It also demanded an unequivocal public apology through the same channels used to circulate the original publication, alongside a correction of what it described as the categorical assertion that no payments had been made to retired judicial officers.

The Commission warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would prompt it to submit formal petitions against Adebayo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee and the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.

It said the language and personal allegations in the publication raised concerns about the standards of restraint, dignity and professional responsibility expected of a legal practitioner, particularly one who has attained the rank of SAN.

The threatened petitions had not, in the statement, been described as having already been filed.

Reaffirming its commitment to engaging with retired judicial officers and other pensioners, the Commission said the government would continue to pursue the settlement of verified entitlements through what it described as responsible administration, sound financial management and constructive engagement.

It maintained that the ₦278.07 million paid to the 15 retired judicial officers demonstrated that payments had been made, while acknowledging that some beneficiaries were still awaiting full settlement of their gratuities.

The statement did not specify the total outstanding gratuity balance owed to the affected judicial officers, the individual amounts paid to each beneficiary or the timeline for clearing the remaining obligations.

The Commission concluded that public debate over retirement benefits should be guided by accurate information, evidence and respect for the responsibilities attached to public office and professional standing.

“The public deserves accurate information. Retired judicial officers deserve dignity and the settlement of their legitimate entitlements. Public discourse deserves the discipline of evidence, the strength of reasoned argument and respect for the responsibilities that accompany professional distinction,” the statement said.