The Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has arraigned several staff members of the Federal Medical Centre, Bids, Niger State for a N17 million ghost worker fraud.
The Head of Payroll for the institution, Sadiq Sadiq was arraigned alongside the head of internal audit, Awesu Bababida and another staff before a state high court in Minna for inserting three ghost workers into the payroll of the medical centre for years.
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The Trio were charged with siphoning 17.5 million from the Federal Government for their personal use by using fictitious names inserted into the Payroll of the Federal medical center.
They were also charged with using their position to confer corrupt advantages on themselves.
According to a statement released by ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, the accused broke sections 18 and 26(1) (c) of the constitution, punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Excerpts from the charge sheet read;
“That you, Sadiq A. Sadiq, Awesu M. Bababida and Ihuoma Mirian, being public officers of the Department of Payroll and Audit Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, sometime in October 2015 to July 2016 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, did conspire among yourselves: to wit: inserting names of three ghost workers into the payroll of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida.”
The suspects all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N5 million each, alongside two sureties with landed properties worth the bail amount as well as their international passport.
The case was thereafter adjourned till October 6.