Abia State has sacked six Justice Ministry staff after an audit exposed payroll fraud involving inflated salaries.
Governor Alex Otti also ordered a probe into the state’s Salary Committee for possible complicity.
The Abia State Government has dismissed six staff members of the Ministry of Justice after an audit uncovered alleged manipulation of payroll records that allowed them to draw inflated salaries.
In a statement on Friday, the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, Eno Eze, confirmed the dismissal of the officers, who held positions ranging from Senior Executive Officer to Chief Executive Officer in the accounts department. Those affected include a Principal Accountant (SGL 12), Senior Accountant (SGL 10), Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14), Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13), Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12), and a Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09).
According to Eze, the decision followed an internal audit and an administrative inquiry which revealed that the officers “knowingly benefitted from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state.” The probe reviewed financial records and interrogated the officers before reaching its conclusion.
The statement clarified that one officer, Mrs. Chioma Favour Madu, who was also investigated, was exonerated after promptly reporting her overpayment and taking immediate steps to rectify it.
Investigators also flagged concerns over possible collusion by members of the state’s Salary Committee, prompting Governor Alex Otti to order a separate inquiry into the committee’s activities.
Eze added that those indicted would be referred to law enforcement agencies for prosecution, stressing that the government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and discipline in the civil service.
