Nine civil servants who have been allegedly collecting ghost workers salaries to the tune of N293million have been arraigned in court.
The civil servants after they were arraigned in court
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 arraigned nine suspected payroll fraudsters before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a 16-count charge of conspiracy and illegal stealing of workers’ salary to the tune of N293million.
The suspects: Usman Aliyu Dayo, Osuntope Opeyemi, Johnson Adedokun, Ojeifo Robert Slyvanus, Oyebade Ebenezer Ayodeji, Florence Olaolu Dada, Olaolu Haruna Dada, Blessing Ejeh and Aderibigbe Isaac Taiwo were alleged to have conspired to collect ghost workers’ salaries and entitlements from different ministries.
The offence breaches Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act (Abuja) LFN 1990, and punishable under the same Act. Justice Kekemeke, in the circumstance, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned to November 8, 2017 for hearing of the bail application.