A Nigerian civil servant is in serious trouble for allegedly faking government documents and misusing a federal payroll system to keep receiving a salary while she was suspended.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther in court for these actions.
She was brought before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on May 12. The ICPC filed three charges against her.
According to the ICPC, she forged a posting letter dated January 20, 1998, and claimed it was issued by the Head of Civil Service.
Investigators also discovered that all the documents she submitted—such as her posting instruction, appointment letter, and confirmation letter—were fake. She held a top role in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
The Federal Civil Service Commission later confirmed that it had no records of her supposed employment.
Mrs. Esther had been called by a committee formed by the Head of Service to respond to these issues, but she did not show up. As a result, her salary was stopped in November 2021.
Despite this, she used her access to the government’s payroll system, known as IPPIS, to illegally restart her salary in January 2022. She did this without any approval from the authorities.
One of the charges says she created a fake letter in 2021 that looked like it was from the Office of the Head of Civil Service, with the intent to commit fraud. This is a crime under FCT laws.
When the charges were read in court, Mrs. Esther said she was not guilty.
Her lawyer, Mr. Chima Okason, asked the court to grant her bail on simple terms. The ICPC did not oppose the request.
The judge agreed to the bail but added strict conditions. Mrs. Esther must present two sureties who are currently serving as directors in the federal civil service within the FCT.
The sureties must also show proof of their first and latest promotions. These will be checked by the court.
In addition, they must agree in writing that if Mrs. Esther runs away, they will be jailed in her place.
The court has set the next hearing for July 8, 2025, when the trial will officially begin.
