Moses Oluwafunmilayo Esther, a senior civil servant, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over allegations of document forgery and illegal manipulation of the federal government’s payroll system.
In a statement released Wednesday by the Commission’s Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, the ICPC confirmed that Mrs. Esther appeared before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Monday, facing a three-count charge related to criminal forgery and fraud.
Moses Esther, formerly serving as a Principal Administrative Officer in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, is accused of forging a posting letter dated January 20, 1998.
The letter, bearing Reference No. HCSF/CMO/EMD/AOD/013/1/30, was allegedly fabricated to appear as if issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to the ICPC, further investigation revealed that several documents submitted by the defendant—including her appointment letter, gazette, confirmation letter, and posting instruction—were falsified.
The Federal Civil Service Commission confirmed that no matching records exist in their official database.
The case escalated when Mrs. Esther reportedly ignored an investigative committee set up by the Head of the Civil Service, leading to her salary being suspended in November 2021.
However, by January 2022, she allegedly exploited her access to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to reinstate her salary without proper authorization.
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.”
Mrs. Esther pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.
Her lawyer, Mr. Chima Okason, requested bail on liberal terms, a request that was not contested by the ICPC’s prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Olubunmi Ayo.
Justice Halilu granted bail under stringent conditions: the defendant must produce two credible sureties, each being a serving director in a federal agency within the FCT. The sureties must also present documentation of their first and most recent promotions, which are subject to verification by the court registrar. Additionally, they must sign an undertaking agreeing to be remanded if the defendant absconds.
The trial is scheduled to begin on July 8, 2025.
