The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 ghost workers across at least 50 Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), exposing a major payroll fraud scheme that allegedly diverted hundreds of millions of naira from government coffers.
According to the commission, about ₦942 million linked to fraudulent salary payments made to the fictitious workers has been recovered.
ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu disclosed that the investigation began in 2024 after the commission detected irregularities in pension payments. The probe subsequently revealed significant loopholes in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which were allegedly exploited by some senior government officials.
The commission said the officials inserted the names of relatives and associates into the federal payroll despite them not being legitimate employees and diverted the salaries paid to those fictitious workers for personal gain.
The investigation identified 908 ghost workers spread across no fewer than 50 federal MDAs. Institutions affected include the Nigeria Police Force, the National Water Resources Authority, the Federal Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of ₦941,994,079.86 recovered during the ICPC’s investigation into the 2024 IPPIS payroll fraud.
In a certified true copy of the judgment delivered by Justice B.F.M. Nyako in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/156/2026, the court granted the ICPC’s application for the permanent forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.
The order, issued on July 13, 2026, followed a Motion on Notice filed by the commission on March 26, 2026.
Justice Nyako held that the recovered sum, which was domiciled in the ICPC Recovery Account, was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and consequently ordered its final forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria.