Otti Led Abia Govt Sacks 6 Civil Servants, Over Alleged Salary Padding

Abia State Government has dismissed 6 civil servants over alleged salary padding, an act that is considered a serious corrupt oractice.

Among the suspected six senior civil servants, five are females and one is a male. They are to be handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

All the dismissed officials were said to be staff of the Ministry of Justice who were indicted in a salary-padding scheme uncovered during an internal audit and administrative inquiry.

A statement from the government said the affected officers were “found to have engaged in the manipulation of payroll systems, resulting in the unlawful receipt of excess salaries over a sustained period.

“The disciplinary action followed a detailed investigation by the Abia State Civil Service Commission, which independently interrogated the officers, reviewed relevant financial records, and confirmed that the named individuals had knowingly benefitted from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state.| The statement noted, however, that one Mrs Chioma Favour Madu, initially investigated, has been cleared of wrongdoing, having promptly reported the overpayment and taken immediate steps to correct it.

“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.”

The indicted and dismissed staff would be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

The statement said the government’s action underscored the commitment of the present administration to transparency, discipline, and zero tolerance for corruption in public service.