Metro
Court jails 3 civil servants over collection of salaries of 15 ghost workers for 4 years
An FCT High Court on Wednesday, sentenced three civil servants to six years imprisonment each for payroll fraud.
The convicts are Justin Itemoagbo, Dayo Aliyu and Sylvanus Ojeifo.
A fourth officer, Dayang Jacob, was discharged and acquitted.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged them to court on a 32-count charge of criminal conspiracy, theft and cheating by impersonation.
Delivering judgement, Justice Peter Kekemeke sentenced them after going through their evidence and that of the prosecution.
“In totality, the evidence of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants collapsed like a pack of cards. I, therefore, find the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants guilty as charged. The 4th defendant is found not guilty. He is accordingly discharged and acquitted,” the judge ruled.
All the defendant’s counsel pleaded for leniency and urged the court to tamper justice with mercy and give the convicts option of fine.
Responding, the prosecution submitted that the sentencing is left at the discretion of the court.
The judge held that the plea of all the defendants counsel is moving and that the prosecution relied on the discretion of the court.
The judge said: “The defendants are all approaching 60 years of age. They are aged. They have been out of job for eight years.
“I shall have mercy on them, God does not require the death of a sinner but that all should come unto repentance.
“In count 1, the three defendants are sentenced to 2 years imprisonment or option of N500,000 each.
“In counts 2 to 23, they are to serve another two years on each count or N1 million fine.
“Count 24, 25 and 26 are against the 1st defendant, he is sentenced to one year imprisonment without option of fine in each count.
“The 2nd defendant is sentenced to one year in count 27, 29, 30 and 31 respectively without option of fine.
“For the count 32, the three defendants were sentenced to a year in prison or N500,000 fine.”
The prosecution said they do not know the exact amount of the Federal Government money that was paid as salaries to the defendants.
“In the circumstance, this court cannot order a refund of federal government money paid as salaries,” he said.
The defendants were arraigned in the court for payroll fraud they committed between 2012 and 2015.
They were accused of smuggling about 15 names of either deceased workers or retired ones and collected their salaries every month.
The first defendant worked with human resources department, Federal ministry of works while the second defendant worked at the help desk officers, office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
The third defendant worked at the nominal roll and manpower budget office of the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Nigerian Army has warned that terrorist groups, including the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), may be planning coordinated attacks on schools, NYSC orientation camps, churches, and other vulnerable public places across the country.
The army made the observation in a statement dated September 9, 2026, signed by AM Sodiq and addressed to the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.
It explained that there is increasing mobilisation of resources and foot-soldiers by terrorist groups for possible attacks in parts of the country.
The Army also said it had received information about the movement of scores of armed fighters from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
The military further disclosed that suspected ISWAP members had started monitoring some of the identified targets, allegedly with the help of local collaborators.
While noting that the attacks could happen any moment from now, the Army expressed particular concern about schools ahead of the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session.
It said the terrorists could be planning to exploit the return of large numbers of students and teachers to cause mass casualties and create fear.
The military added that the timing was intended to exploit the concentration of students and staff to cause mass casualties as well as heighten public fear and insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Airport Police Command has debunked reports of a terrorist attack at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, revealing that the security operation witnessed at the facility was part of a planned simulation exercise.
The exercise, conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2026, was organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to assess the preparedness of security and emergency-response agencies in handling potential threats.
According to the Airport Police Command, personnel from various security agencies were deployed as part of the controlled exercise, which was designed to recreate a simulated security incident within the airport environment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the exercise tested critical areas including inter-agency coordination, communication, command and control, and emergency response.
The Command stressed that no terrorist attack, invasion or security breach occurred at the airport, contrary to claims circulating on social media.
Police described the operation as a “controlled and authorised activity” and appealed to members of the public, particularly travellers and airport users, not to panic or share unverified reports.
The Command assured that security at the airport remained under control, adding that security agencies would continue to maintain vigilance around passengers, staff and critical airport infrastructure.
The Police further advised the public to rely on information released through official government and security channels, noting that such simulation exercises are part of broader efforts to improve Nigeria’s response to possible security emergencies.
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt and rescued a 16-year-old victim, Favour Ayogu, at Ekene Junction, along Oguta Road, Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.
According to The PUNCH, the victim was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State by a kidnap syndicate and later abandoned when the abductors approached a security checkpoint in Onitsha after security operatives thwarted their moves.
In a statement released on Monday, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the rescue of the victim followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on Sunday night.
Ikenga said the abductors abandoned their victim and fled after a hot chase by security operatives who had earlier suspected their movements.
According to him, the command has intensified surveillance to apprehend the suspected abductors while seeking the public’s assistance to reunite the victim with his family in Enugu State.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command has intensified efforts to apprehend a suspected criminal gang following the rescue of a 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State and later abandoned near a security checkpoint in Onitsha.
“The rescue followed improved strategic joint security operations conducted on the evening of September 13, 2026.
“A joint patrol team operating at Ekene Junction along Oguta Road, Onitsha, intercepted the victim after he was reportedly dropped from a black Toyota Highlander SUV by unidentified persons close to the security checkpoint.
“The swift response of the joint patrol team led to the boy’s rescue and prevented further harm. The Command has since stepped up surveillance and other intelligence-led measures to identify, trace, and arrest those responsible for the alleged abduction.
“The Anambra State Police Command appeals to members of the public, particularly residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State, who may have information that could assist in locating the victim’s family, to contact the nearest Police Station or the Anambra State Police Command.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Nnanna Ama, commended the joint patrol team for its vigilance and professionalism.
Ama further urged personnel to sustain intelligence-led patrols, strategic checkpoints and coordinated security operations across the state.
“The Command reassures residents and visitors of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, responding swiftly to distress situations, and ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven in Anambra State,” the statement added.
(PUNCH)
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