Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved the dismissal of six officials from the state’s Ministry of Justice following allegations of payroll manipulation and financial misconduct.
The decision, communicated through a letter signed by the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Eno Eze, comes after an internal audit and administrative inquiry revealed that the affected officers illegally altered the ministry’s payroll system to collect excess salaries.
Officials Dismissed
Those dismissed from service include:
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Mr. Dickson Uche Eze – Principal Accountant (SGL 12)
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Mrs. Esther Emeruwa – Senior Accountant (SGL 10)
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Mrs. Ijeoma Jonathan – Chief Executive Officer, Accounts (SGL 14)
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Mrs. Treasure Isinguzo – Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Accounts (SGL 13)
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Mrs. Chioma Victoria Erondu – Principal Executive Officer, Accounts (SGL 12)
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Mrs. Hannah Ezinne Eze – Senior Executive Officer, General Duties (SGL 09)
The commission noted that their removal followed the outcome of a broader review into the state’s finances, which confirmed that they benefitted from irregular payments at the expense of government resources.
Independent Investigation and Findings
According to Mrs. Eze, the dismissal was also informed by an independent investigation conducted by the Abia Civil Service Commission. The probe established that some members of the Ministry’s Salary Committee may have aided the fraudulent activities.
“Additionally, the investigation raised serious concerns about the possible complicity of some members of the Salary Committee in the fraudulent scheme. The governor has directed that the activities of the committee be subjected to a separate probe to ensure full accountability,” Eze stated.
Officer Cleared of Wrongdoing
One of the officers initially investigated, Chioma Favour Madu, was exonerated after it was discovered that she had promptly reported cases of overpayment and even took steps to correct them.
Prosecution and Wider Accountability
The Civil Service Commission confirmed that the dismissed officials would be handed over to relevant law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
The development is part of Governor Otti’s ongoing reforms to curb corruption, plug financial leakages, and strengthen transparency within Abia State’s civil service.
Analysts say the decision to dismiss and prosecute the officials signals a tougher stance by the current administration on accountability in public service, particularly as payroll fraud has been identified as a persistent challenge in Nigerian states.
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