By Ngozi Onyeakusi— The Military Pensions Board (MPB) has denied report on non-payment of deceased soldiers’ death benefits.

In a statement, Public Relations Officer, Military Pensions Board, Flight Lieutenant Olayinka Lawal said the reports which claimed that the widows of 91NA/32/4128 Corporal Oladejo Joseph and 04NA/55/1726 Lance Corporal Sunday Orji had yet to be paid the death benefits of their deceased husbands several years after the demise of their benefactors were totally false and should be disregarded by well-meaning Nigerians.

He said preliminary investigation carried out by the Military Pensions Board on the said allegation showed that the death benefits of these two soldiers were paid to their recorded Next of Kins (NOKs) in December 2013 and November 2018 respectively.

Lawal further stated that 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, while 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 was the wife and the recorded NOK of the deceased soldier.

He said the account numbers and the amounts paid to these NOKs were not stated here in order to respect the confidentiality of such details but would be released if need be.

Lawal said in view of the foregoing, the Military Pensions Board requested 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 operatives the Armed Forces of Nigeria in particular, their NOks and Nigerians in general.

He said the Board encouraged 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.”

Lawal said the Board remained resolute and would continue to sustain the prompt payment of all entitlements due to military retirees or their NOKs in a prompt and accountable manner.