ICPC Secures Final Forfeiture of N941.9m Linked to Alleged IPPIS Ghost Worker Fraud

ABUJA, Nigeria — The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a final forfeiture order for N941,994,079.86 allegedly linked to a ghost worker fraud uncovered during investigations into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the order after hearing an ex parte application filed by the ICPC on behalf of the Federal Government, seeking the permanent forfeiture of the funds believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The commission said the ruling followed an extensive investigation into an alleged payroll fraud scheme involving hundreds of fictitious public servants across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Investigation Traced Fraud to IPPIS Payroll Irregularities

According to the ICPC, the investigation originated from a 2023 systems review that uncovered widespread irregularities within the IPPIS platform and revealed the existence of numerous ghost workers on the payrolls of government institutions.

Following the findings, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a comprehensive audit of the payroll system, leading to a joint investigation by the ICPC and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) in April 2024.

The anti-corruption agency said the exercise identified 587 suspected ghost workers on the IPPIS platform.

The commission alleged that fraudulent IPPIS identities were created for non-existent personnel across multiple MDAs, with salaries paid over several years into bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies.

According to the ICPC, some of the accounts did not bear the names of the purported employees, while others allegedly received multiple salary payments simultaneously.

ICPC Published Names of 910 Suspected Beneficiaries

As part of the forfeiture proceedings, the commission said it published the names of 910 suspected beneficiaries of the alleged fraud in Daily Trust and The Punch newspapers on March 18, 2026, inviting anyone with a legitimate claim to the funds to come forward.

To preserve the suspected proceeds of the alleged fraud, the ICPC placed Post No Debit (PND) restrictions on the affected bank accounts between August and November 2024, freezing funds amounting to N941.9 million.

The Federal High Court subsequently granted the final forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government.

HURIWA Calls for Transparency in Recovered Assets

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for greater transparency and public accountability in the management of assets recovered through anti-corruption efforts.

The organisation said the success of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign should not be measured solely by court-ordered forfeitures but also by how recovered assets are utilised to improve the lives of citizens.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for securing several landmark forfeiture judgments involving assets linked to alleged unlawful activities.

The group cited the permanent forfeiture of more than N4.6 billion worth of jewellery, N4.293 billion in luxury vehicles, cash recovered from businesswoman Aisha Achimugu, the Supreme Court’s restoration of the forfeiture of assets linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, and the forfeiture of 52 luxury housing units in Lagos.

According to HURIWA, the recent judicial decisions have strengthened public confidence in the judiciary’s role in the fight against corruption.

HEDA Hails Court Judgment

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) also welcomed the forfeiture order, describing it as a significant boost to Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, commended the anti-graft agency for pursuing the case to its conclusion and praised the judiciary for upholding the rule of law.

According to Suraju, the judgment demonstrates that anti-corruption institutions can achieve meaningful results in cases involving both public officials and private individuals when investigations and prosecutions are conducted professionally and without undue interference.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.