The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther for allegedly forging official documents and unlawfully manipulating the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to continue receiving salaries despite being suspended.
Mrs. Esther, a Principal Administrative Officer at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, was brought before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, facing a three-count charge filed by the ICPC.
According to the Commission, the defendant allegedly forged a letter of posting dated January 20, 1998, bearing Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/AOD/013/1/30, claiming it was issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
ICPC investigations further revealed that multiple documents submitted by the defendant, including a posting instruction, gazette, appointment, and confirmation letters, were falsified. The Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed that these records did not exist in its system.
Mrs. Esther had reportedly failed to appear before a committee set up by the Head of Service to investigate her employment status, leading to the suspension of her salary in November 2021. However, by January 2022, she allegedly used her access as a role player on the IPPIS platform to illegally reinstate her salary without proper authorization.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Oluwafunmilayo Esther (F), on or about 2021 in Abuja… did forge a document to wit: a posting letter dated 17th June 2021… and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT.”
Mrs. Esther pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Her counsel, Mr. Chima Okason, requested bail on liberal terms, which was not opposed by the ICPC’s legal representative, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo.
Justice Halilu granted bail on the condition that the defendant produce two credible sureties—both must be current directors in the federal civil service and serving within the Federal Capital Territory. The sureties must present evidence of their first and most recent promotions and sign a written undertaking to be remanded in custody should the defendant jump bail.
The case has been adjourned to July 8, 2025, for trial commencement.
What you should know
Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Esther stands accused of falsifying her employment records and exploiting her system access to reinstate her salary unlawfully.
The ICPC charges point to a deeper issue of internal controls and abuse of digital payroll systems in the public sector.
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