ICPC Uncovers Official Who Enrolled 14 Family Members on Govt Payroll, Another Collected 13 Salaries

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered massive payroll fraud across federal ministries, departments and agencies, revealing that one official fraudulently enrolled 14 members of his family on the public payroll, while another individual collected 13 separate salaries and a private hotel was also registered as a government employee receiving monthly payments.

ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu disclosed these findings on Thursday in Abuja during his keynote address at the 2026 Economic Confidential Lecture and National Spokespersons Award, organised by Image Merchants Promotions Limited. He revealed that investigators had uncovered multiple cases of individuals manipulating government payroll systems to divert public funds through fictitious salary payments. “We discovered that one person enrolled 14 members of his family. He lived in a religious hotel, a hotel at the public office, receiving salaries,” Aliyu said. In another shocking case, a different suspect allegedly placed his wife, daughter, son and other relatives on the payroll and was collecting 13 separate salaries. The commission also found that a hotel had been registered as a public officer and was receiving salaries from government funds.

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The ICPC chairman explained that fraudulent entries were carefully concealed within official records. Names and email addresses of phantom workers appeared on government payrolls, but the bank account numbers linked to those entries belonged to entirely different individuals. “When they insert their names, you will see their name in the payroll. You will see their email. But when you check the account number, you will see the name of the person. So, that is how these things have been done,” he explained. Investigators also found cases where the name of a supposed female employee was linked to a bank account belonging to a man, highlighting the extent of manipulation within payroll systems.

The investigation, which lasted an entire year, identified 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal ministries, departments and agencies. The commission published the names of these individuals in national newspapers and obtained interim court orders, challenging them to prove they were genuine government employees. According to Aliyu, after one year, not a single person appeared to challenge the action, and the court granted final forfeiture, with the commission recovering over N100 million from their accounts. The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers among all institutions investigated, with 570 names identified during the verification exercise. The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56 suspected ghost workers. Other affected agencies include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24), Ministry of Defence (19), Ministry of Power (17), Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (17), Ministry of Health (15), and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (12). The commission noted that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were also implicated, though figures were withheld as investigations are ongoing.

The commission recovered about N942 million linked to fraudulent salary payments made to fictitious workers. In a related legal action, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted final forfeiture of N941,994,079.86 seized during investigation into the IPPIS payroll scam. The funds were traced to accounts linked to the scheme following a systems study conducted by the commission in 2023. Aliyu warned that the consequences of payroll fraud extend far beyond salary theft. “Once there is a ghost worker, there is ghost pension, there is ghost mortgage, there is ghost housing fund, there is ghost health insurance,” he said. The ICPC recovered more than N24 billion in ghost pension funds in 2024 alone. He explained that ghost workers and fraudulent pension claims consume resources that could otherwise be used to employ genuine workers, pay legitimate retirees and provide essential public services.

The ICPC chairman said the commission had adopted a preventive approach, focusing on stopping corruption before it occurs rather than relying solely on criminal prosecution. “It is better for us to do that than to engage in filing criminal charges. How many charges can we file?” he asked. He also called for greater use of data and technology in combating corruption, stressing that effective communication and access to reliable information were essential to building public confidence in anti-corruption efforts. Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of IMPR, Yusha’u Shuaib, said the lecture was organised to promote stronger governance through transparency, accountability and professional communication. “We are honoured to host yet another gathering of leaders, professionals, scholars, and communication experts committed to strengthening governance, promoting transparency, and advancing excellence in public communication,” Shuaib said.

ICPC Uncovers Official Who Enrolled 14 Family Members on Govt Payroll, Another Collected 13 Salaries

Mystery Deepens in Ikoyi Murder as Police Declare Two Men Wanted Over Missing Dubai Returnee

The Lagos State Police Command has intensified its manhunt for two men declared wanted in connection with the alleged murder and mysterious disappearance of a 26‑year‑old woman in the Ikoyi area of Lagos. The suspects, identified as Ajibola Obateru, 33, and Folawiyo Balogun Alagbado, 32, are accused of conspiring with others to attack the victim, kill her, and dispose of her body at an unknown location. Both men reportedly have their last known addresses in Ibadan, Oyo State. The case has drawn significant public attention, not only because of the gruesome nature of the allegations but also because the victim’s body has not been recovered, leaving her family in a state of agonising uncertainty.

The victim has been identified as Chukwunyere Esther Chinaza, an Imo State indigene who reportedly returned to Nigeria from Dubai in June 2026. According to police reports, Chinaza arrived in Lagos on June 18 with a male friend based in South Africa. She was last seen on June 22, 2026, around the Shoreline area of Banana Island, Ikoyi, one of Lagos’s most exclusive residential neighbourhoods. A police bulletin described Chinaza as an Igbo woman with a fair complexion and tall‑to‑average height, with her last known address listed as Horizon Estate, Ikate, Lagos. Her family has been unable to establish whether she is alive or dead, and her body has not been recovered, deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Speaking to SaharaReporters, one of Chinaza’s brothers expressed the family’s distress and frustration with the pace of the investigation, recounting that his sister was lured from Dubai to Lagos on June 18 and went missing from June 21, and that they have not seen her or her body. He further expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation, stating that they are not relying on the police investigation as nothing has been done, with no arrests made regarding the two suspects.

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The declaration was formalised in separate Special Police Gazette Bulletins issued under the authority of the Inspector‑General of Police. The bulletins, referenced Force Directive C.I.D. No. 48, were disseminated through the Office of the Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti‑Yaba. According to the police, the suspects allegedly conspired with others to attack Chinaza, killed her, and made away with her body and personal belongings. The police have not publicly disclosed how she was allegedly killed or where her body was taken, leaving many questions unanswered. Another suspect, identified only as Hakeem, is reportedly already in police custody at the SCID, Panti, in connection with the same case. The allegations against the two men remain subject to investigation and have not been established in court, but the police are treating the case with urgency as they work to locate the suspects and piece together the events leading to Chinaza’s disappearance.

The police have provided detailed physical descriptions of the two wanted men to assist members of the public in identifying them. Ajibola Obateru, 33, is described as a Yoruba male, approximately 5.9 feet tall, thinly built, with a fair complexion. He has an oval face, a long nose, a small mouth with thin lips, black eyes, and a pointed chin. The bulletin also notes he has thick black hair, a high head and forehead, and “appears gentle” in his habits and mannerisms. His last known address is Ajoda New Town, Ibadan, Oyo State. Folawiyo Balogun Alagbado, 32, is also a Yoruba male described as being of average height with a dark complexion. He has an oval face, a wide nose, a long and wide mouth with medium lips, and a round chin. His last known address is also listed as Ajoda New Town, Ibadan, Oyo State. These detailed descriptions are intended to help the public identify the suspects and report their whereabouts to the authorities.

The Lagos State Police Command has urged members of the public with any information on the whereabouts of either suspect to report immediately to the nearest police station or contact the Office of the Commissioner of Police, SCID, Musiliu Smith Street, Panti‑Yaba, Lagos. A dedicated contact number, 08038843816, has also been provided for information that could assist in locating the men. The police have advised the public not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspects themselves but to alert the authorities upon spotting them, as the suspects are considered potentially dangerous. The case has drawn attention to concerns about violent crime in Lagos, particularly in upscale areas like Ikoyi and Banana Island, often perceived as safe havens. For the family of Esther Chinaza, the wait for answers continues as the manhunt for Alagbado and Obateru intensifies, and they remain hopeful that the police will soon bring the perpetrators to justice and provide them with closure.

Mystery Deepens in Ikoyi Murder as Police Declare Two Men Wanted Over Missing Dubai Returnee

Kidnappers Double Ransom for Jowizaza’s Father to N1.5bn, Cut Communication with Family

The abductors of Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, Chairman of Jezco Group and father of socialite Jowizaza, have reportedly increased their ransom demand from ₦700 million to ₦1.5 billion, while also cutting off communication with his distraught family. The 74-year-old billionaire businessman was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday, August 5, 2026, from a Catholic prayer ground in Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, where he had gone for his annual spiritual retreat. According to reports, Ezeokafor had deliberately left his security personnel behind—a practice he maintained out of personal conviction that a holy prayer ground should not be surrounded by bodyguards. This decision reportedly made him vulnerable to the kidnappers, who allegedly swooped in while he was in the middle of prayers and took him to an unknown destination. The abduction has since plunged his family into a desperate search for answers, while the community of Ekwulobia has been thrown into mourning over the fate of their most illustrious son.

A source close to the family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the abductors initially demanded ₦700 million after establishing contact with the family following the abduction. The family reportedly accepted the initial demand as part of efforts to secure Ezeokafor’s swift release, hoping that compliance would lead to his safe return. However, the kidnappers later escalated their demand to ₦1.5 billion, throwing negotiations into disarray and leaving the family scrambling to respond to the sudden increase. The situation has taken an even more troubling turn as the abductors have reportedly stopped communicating with the family altogether, leaving relatives unable to confirm the businessman’s safety or negotiate terms for his release. “The family has been willing to negotiate and do whatever is necessary to secure his release, but the kidnappers have suddenly stopped communicating,” a source close to the family disclosed, adding that efforts to re-establish contact have so far proved unsuccessful. The development has reportedly left the family in a difficult position, as attempts to restore communication with the abductors have not yielded results, and they remain in the dark about the fate of their patriarch.

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The abduction has thrown Ezeokafor’s hometown of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area into deep mourning, with residents expressing shock and grief over the incident. Lawyer Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, who first made the abduction public in a Facebook post, described Ezeokafor as the richest man from the community, noting that his influence and philanthropy had endeared him to many. In a significant show of solidarity, the community reportedly postponed its annual New Yam Festival—a celebration that had never been delayed before—because members felt it would be inappropriate to celebrate while their “illustrious son” remained in captivity. The decision to postpone the festival reflects the deep sense of loss and anxiety that has gripped the community, with residents hoping and praying for the safe return of the businessman who had given so much to the town.

As of Thursday, August 13, 2026, one week after the abduction, neither the Anambra State Government nor the State Police Command has issued an official statement on the incident, leaving the public and the family in a state of uncertainty. The Anambra State Police Command has also not publicly commented on the businessman’s abduction or efforts to secure his release, despite the growing public concern. Ezeokafor’s whereabouts remain unknown as his family continues efforts to secure his release amid the reported ransom escalation and communication breakdown, and the lack of official communication from authorities has only deepened the family’s anxiety and frustration.

Born on April 30, 1952, in Ekwulobia, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor is a self-made billionaire who founded Jezco in 1980, obtaining a full oil service and marketing license by 1988. He later expanded into manufacturing with a lubricant factory, plastic production plant, and fuel dispenser assembly line, building a business empire that has made him one of the most prominent businessmen in the Southeast. The business mogul, who lost both parents at a young age, is also known for his philanthropy, including donating ₦20 million to the Anambra State government during the COVID-19 crisis and distributing food items worth millions to his community. His first son, Joseph Ezeokafor Jr., popularly known as Jowizaza, now serves as Chief Executive Officer of the company, carrying on his father’s legacy. The family has appealed to the public not to spread unverified information about his release, stressing that they remain in the dark as they await any word on the safety and whereabouts of their patriarch, while continuing to pray for his safe return.

Kidnappers Double Ransom for Jowizaza’s Father to N1.5bn, Cut Communication with Family