Civil Servant Arraigned for Allegedly Manipulating FG’s Salary Software

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has officially arraigned a civil servant, Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther, over allegations that she forged official documents and unlawfully tampered with the Federal Government's salary payment platform to receive salaries while under suspension.

Mrs. Esther was brought before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday, May 12, 2025. She is facing a three-count charge filed by the ICPC, involving forgery and unauthorized manipulation of government systems.

What She Allegedly Did

According to the ICPC, Mrs. Esther allegedly forged a letter of posting dated 20th January 1998, bearing Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/AOD/013/1/30. This letter was supposedly from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. However, the commission claims that the letter — as well as other documents such as her posting instruction, gazette, appointment letter, and confirmation letter — were all fake.

These documents were presented by Mrs. Esther to validate her position as a Principal Administrative Officer in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

But during verification, the Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed that no such records existed in their official database — indicating that the documents were not authentic.

Suspension and the IPPIS Hack

In response to the allegations, a committee was set up by the Head of Service to investigate the suspicious posting. Mrs. Esther was invited to appear before this committee but failed to show up. As a result of this non-compliance, her salary was suspended in November 2021 pending further investigation.

However, what shocked investigators was what happened next.

Despite being suspended, Mrs. Esther allegedly used her privileged access as a role player on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) — the federal government’s official salary platform — to illegally restore her own salary in January 2022. She reportedly did this without getting any approval from the Office of the Head of Civil Service.

Details of the Charges

One of the charges 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.”

When the court read the charges, Mrs. Esther pleaded “not guilty.”

Her lawyer, Mr. Chima Okason, appealed to the court to grant her bail on liberal terms, meaning less strict conditions. The ICPC’s legal representative, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo, did not oppose this bail request.

Bail Conditions

Justice Halilu granted her bail but under very strict conditions:

• She must present two credible sureties.

• Each surety must be a serving director in the federal civil service and must currently be working in any parastatal located within the FCT.

• These sureties must also submit documents showing their first and most recent promotions.

• The documents will be verified by the court registrar.

• Finally, the sureties must sign a written agreement stating that if Mrs. Esther attempts to jump bail, they will be detained in her place.

What’s Next?

The case has now been adjourned to the 8th of July, 2025, which is when the main trial will begin.