N143bn ghost workers scam: EFCC presses charges against five alleged masterminds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against five officials, who allegedly padded the Federal Government payroll with about 50,000 ‘ghost’ workers.

The Federal Government had said the nation lost N143bn to the salary fraud.

A reliable source in the EFCC told our correspondent on Sunday that the suspects had been charged to court but the case had not yet been assigned to any judge.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had revealed in December that the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, created by the present administration, was able to uncover the 50,000 ‘ghost’ workers and saved the nation N13bn monthly during the year.

About 11 members of the syndicate that perpetuated the fraud were transferred to the EFCC.

A detective at the commission said, “You will recall that the Ministry of Finance sent the names of some suspects perpetrating the ‘ghost’ workers’ fraud. We have been able to charge five people. However, investigations are still ongoing.

Punch, January 23, 2017

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now