Two civil servants attached to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) on Wednesday admitted diverting salaries of former employees of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos.
The defendants, Chief Accountant Shola Onasanya and Principal Executive Officer Halimat Olalere, pleaded guilty before the Federal High Court in Lagos after entering a plea bargain with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
According to the ICPC, the pair failed to stop salary payments amounting to ₦1.17 million for staff who had left the service, and instead converted the funds for personal use. The act violates Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2022.
During proceedings, prosecutor Enosa Omoghibo presented an amended charge dated 4 September, following court approval to substitute the initial filing. The defendants then admitted guilt.
Relying on Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the prosecution urged the court to adopt the plea bargain as judgment. However, Justice Ibrahim Kala stressed that under Section 274 of the ACJA, the guilty plea alone could not secure a conviction without supporting evidence.
The case was adjourned to September 18 for a review of the facts.
Investigators allege that between January and December 2023, Onasanya instructed Olalere to alter payroll details to continue receiving salaries of ex-staff, and that Olalere transferred the proceeds into his account before handing them over to Onasanya.
