The Abia State Government has sacked six workers of the Ministry of Justice after they were found guilty of inflating salary records for personal gain.

Naijaonpoint reports that the decision came after the Civil Service Commission carried out an investigation into allegations of payroll manipulation.

The probe confirmed that the officers altered payment records, which allowed them to unlawfully collect excess salaries belonging to the state.

Those dismissed are Dickson Uche Eze, Principal Accountant; Esther Emeruwa, Senior Accountant; Ijeoma Jonathan, Chief Executive Officer (Accounts); Treasure Isinguzo, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts); Chioma Victoria Erondu, Principal Executive Officer (Accounts); and Hannah Ezinne Eze, Senior Executive Officer (General Duties).

While six officers were found guilty, another official, Chioma Favour Madu, was cleared after she reported her overpayment and took steps to return it.

The Commission also raised concerns about possible involvement of some members of the Salary Committee, leading to a fresh directive from Governor Alex Otti that their activities should be probed separately.

The government confirmed that the dismissed workers will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

Officials further assured that the action shows the administration’s resolve to uphold integrity, maintain discipline, and remove corrupt practices from the civil service.

Civil servants and the general public were urged to report any suspected irregularities to help protect the system from fraud.