Alex Otti, Abia state governor
The Abia state government has dismissed six officers of the ministry of justice over alleged manipulation of payroll systems to receive excess salaries.
Eno Eze, chairman of the Abia state civil service commission, announced the dismissals in a statement on Thursday.
The affected officers are Dickson Uche Eze, principal accountant (SGL 12); Esther Emeruwa, senior accountant (SGL 10); Ijeoma Jonathan, chief executive officer (accounts – SGL 14); Treasure Isinguzo, assistant chief executive officer (accounts – SGL 13); Chioma Victoria Erondu, principal executive officer (accounts – SGL 12); and Hannah Ezinne Eze, senior executive officer (general duties – SGL 09).
According to the statement, the officers were indicted after an internal audit and administrative inquiry confirmed they “knowingly benefitted from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state”.
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Eze said Chioma Favour Madu, another officer earlier investigated, was cleared of wrongdoing for promptly reporting the overpayment and taking steps to correct it.
The statement added that the probe also raised concerns about possible complicity of members of the salary committee.
Alex Otti, governor of Abia, has directed that the committee’s activities be subjected to a separate investigation.
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“Those indicted and dismissed will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution,” Eze said.
He added that the disciplinary action demonstrates the administration’s “zero tolerance for corruption in public service”, and urged civil servants to report irregularities through confidential channels.
