ICPC arraigns civil servant for forgery, IPPIS manipulation

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought charges against Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther for allegedly forging her letter of posting and unlawfully manipulating the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to continue receiving salary while under suspension.

Mrs. Esther was arraigned 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’ spokesperson Demola Bakare, n a statement made available to Blueprint stated that the defendant allegedly forged a posting letter dated January 20th, 1998, with Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/AOD/013/1/30, purportedly issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

ICPC investigations further revealed that the posting instruction, gazette, appointment letter, and confirmation letter submitted by Mrs. Esther, who held the position of Principal Administrative Officer in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, were all discovered to be falsified. Verification by the Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed the absence of such records in their database.

Furthermore, the defendant reportedly failed to respond to an invitation from a committee established by the Head of Service to investigate the alleged fake posting. Consequently, her salary was suspended in November 2021 pending the investigation’s outcome.

However, it was later uncovered that Mrs. Esther, who possessed access as a role player on the IPPIS platform, illegally restored her salary in January 2022 without obtaining the necessary approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Count One of the charge detailed the alleged forgery of a posting letter dated June 17th, 2021, with Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/002/S.12/T.4.110, purportedly from the Head of Service’s office, bearing her name and six others.

The ICPC stated this action constitutes an offense under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT.

When the charges were presented, Mrs. Esther pleaded “not guilty.”
Her counsel, Mr. Chima Okason, requested the court to grant her bail on liberal terms, an application that was not opposed by the ICPC’s counsel, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo.

Justice Halilu granted bail with the condition that the defendant produce two credible sureties, both of whom must be serving directors within the federal civil service and currently working in any parastatal within the FCT. The sureties are required to present evidence of their first and most recent promotions for verification by the court registrar and provide a written undertaking to be remanded in custody should the defendant abscond.

The court subsequently adjourned the proceedings until July 8th, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.