The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on charges of forgery and unauthorized manipulation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

According to court documents presented on Monday, Mrs. Esther, who served as a Principal Administrative Officer in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, faces a three-count charge related to document forgery and payroll fraud.

ICPC investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly forged multiple official documents, including a letter of posting dated January 20, 1998, with Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/AOD/013/1/30, purportedly issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Further verification by the Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed that the posting instruction, gazette, appointment letter, and confirmation letter submitted by Mrs. Esther were all falsified, with no such records existing in the commission's database.

The commission also alleged that the defendant failed to honor an invitation from a committee established by the Head of Service to investigate the alleged fake posting, which led to the suspension of her salary in November 2021 pending the outcome of the investigation.

In a more serious development, Mrs. Esther, who had access as a role player on the IPPIS platform, allegedly restored her salary illegally in January 2022 without obtaining approval from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

One of the charges reads: "That you, Oluwafunmilayo Esther (F), on or about 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to commit fraud, did forge a document to wit: a posting letter dated 17th June 2021, with Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/002/S.12/T.4.110, purportedly emanating from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, bearing your name, Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther, and six (6) others; and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT."

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded "not guilty." Her counsel, Mr. Chima Okason, requested bail on liberal terms, which was not opposed by ICPC's counsel, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo.

Justice Halilu granted bail under strict conditions: the defendant must produce two credible sureties, each of whom must be a director in the federal civil service currently serving in any parastatal within the FCT. The sureties must present evidence of their first and most recent promotions for verification by the court registrar and provide a written undertaking that they will be remanded in custody should the defendant jump bail.

The case has been adjourned to July 8, 2025, for the commencement of trial.