Three Federal Medical Centre officers docked over ghost workers scandal
Three workers at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, Niger State, have been arraigned before High Court, Minna, Niger State for allegedly inserting names of three ghost workers into the payroll of the Medical Centre.
Penpushing reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned the trio of Sadiq Sadiq( Head of Payroll Department), Awesu Babadiba( Head of Internal Audit)and Ihuoma Mirian, a staff of the health institution.
The accused were arraigned a three-count charge for using their position to confer corrupt advantage upon themselves, offences said to contravene sections 19 and 26(1) (c) and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The agency informed the court of how the three colluded to use the ghost workers’ names and syphoned monies to the tune of N17, 517,967.34k into personal use, knowingly very well that the three names never existed.”
“That you Sadiq A. Sadiq (M), Awesu M. Bababida (M) and Ihuoma Mirian (F) 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 charge sheet read.
Penpushing further reports that, the accused persons entered a “not guilty” plea when the charges were read to them, while their counsel prayed the court to grant them bail which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel.
The judge, Justice Abdullahi Mika’il granted the accused bail in the sum of N5m each, while they were also ordered to individually provide two (2) sureties with evidence of ownership of landed properties worth N5m each within the jurisdiction of the court, in addition to surrendering their travel documents, and thereafter adjourned the case to October 6, 2020 for commencement of hearing.
