The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Moses Esther, a civil servant, for allegedly forging a government posting letter and unlawfully manipulating the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to continue receiving salaries while under suspension.
This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Demola Bakare, fsi, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and spokesperson for the anti-graft agency.
Esther, who reportedly held the position of Principal Administrative Officer in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, was arraigned before Yusuf Halilu, Justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday.
She is facing a three-count charge filed by the Commission, bordering on forgery, fraudulent salary restoration, and refusal to cooperate with an official investigation.
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According to the ICPC, the defendant allegedly forged a letter of posting dated January 20, 1998, with 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.
Further investigations revealed that other employment-related documents, including her posting instruction, gazette, appointment letter, and confirmation letter, were also falsified.
According to ICPC, the Federal Civil Service Commission, upon verification, confirmed that no such records relating to Esther existed in its database.
The Commission stated that a committee set up by the Head of Service had invited Esther to clarify the authenticity of her documents.
However, she failed to honour the invitation, prompting the suspension of her salary in November 2021, pending the outcome of the probe.
Despite the suspension, Esther, who reportedly had access to the IPPIS platform as a role player, allegedly restored her salary in January 2022 without authorisation from the appropriate authority.
One of the charges against her reads:
“That you, Oluwafunmilayo Esther (F), on or about 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to commit fraud, did forge a document to wit: a posting letter dated 17th June 2021, with Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/002/S.12/T.4.110, purportedly emanating from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, bearing your name, Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther, and six (6) others; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT.”
The Commission noted that Esther pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
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Her counsel, Chima Okason, applied for bail on liberal terms, a request which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo of the ICPC.
Justice Halilu granted bail with strict conditions, including the presentation of two credible sureties who must be serving directors in the federal civil service within the FCT.
“The sureties are required to submit evidence of their first and most recent promotions, which will be verified by the court.
“They must also provide a written undertaking to stand in for the defendant should she jump bail, with the implication of being remanded in custody in her”, the statement reads.
The case has been adjourned until July 8, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
