The governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has approved the dismissal of six state Ministry of Justice officials over allegations of payroll system manipulation.
In a letter signed by the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Eno Eze, the officers’ dismissal follows an internal audit and administrative inquiry into the ministry’s payroll system.
The findings from the audit showed that the officials manipulated the payroll to receive excess salaries.
The officials dismissed include Mr. Dickson Uche Eze, a Principal Accountant (SGL 12), Mrs. Esther Emeruwa, Senior Accountant (SGL 10), Mrs. Ijeoma Jonathan, Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14), Mrs. Treasure Isinguzo, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13), Mrs. Chioma Victoria Erondu – Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12) and Mrs. Hannah Ezinne Eze, Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09).
Eze also stated that their dismissal is a sequel to an independent investigation by the Abia State Civil Service Commission.
She also said that a review of the state’s finances and interrogation of the suspects showed that they benefited from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state.
One of the officers, Chioma Favour Madu who was previously under investigation has since been cleared after she reported the overpayments and further took steps to correct them.
“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 said.
The affected officials, Eze noted would be handed over to the relevant agency for onward prosecution.