In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Eno Eze, the dismissed civil servants included a Principal Accountant (SGL 12), Senior Accountant (SGL 10), Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14), Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13), Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12) and a Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09).

According to the state government, the disciplinary action followed a detailed investigation by the State Civil Service Commission, which independently reviewed financial records and interrogated the officers before concluding they had “knowingly benefitted from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state”.

“The government notes, however, that Mrs. Chioma Favour Madu, also initially investigated, has been cleared of wrongdoing, having promptly reported the overpayment and taken immediate steps to correct it.

“Additionally, the investigation raised serious concerns about the possible complicity of some members of the Salary Committee in the fraudulent scheme.

Read Alos: Civil servants get Feb 17 deadline for verification

Eze also stated that those who were formally indicted would be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

He said the dismissals demonstrated the administration’s commitment to transparency and a “zero tolerance for corruption in public service”.

The government called on civil servants to report suspected irregularities through confidential channels.

Source: Channels

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Obasanjo, in his newly released book, ‘Nigeria: Past and Future’ alleged that corruption rose to the peak during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that Malami was a strong supporter of such practices.

Obasanjo further affirmed that during Buhari’s administration, two former governors—Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, who was serving a 10-year sentence for embezzling N1.126bn state funds, and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State—who was serving a 12-year sentence for embezzling N1.64bn. Fraud was granted presidential pardons.

The Council of State presided over by Buhari in April 2022, granted the duo pardons on the grounds of age and ill health.

Both governors were released from Kuje Correctional Facility in the Federal Capital Territory in August 2022, four months after their pardons.

Obasanjo, however, alleged that the pardons were possible owing to the corrupt advice of Malami, adding that it was later revealed that neither Dariye nor Nyame had life-threatening illnesses, as initially claimed.

Reacting to this, Malami dismissed the allegation in an exclusive interview with newsmen, explaining that the process of granting pardons was strictly regulated by law.

He said that his role as Attorney General was limited to presenting the committee’s report to the Council of State.

Malami criticized the growing trend of unsubstantiated corruption allegations against public officials, both locally and internationally, calling for detailed and evidence-based claims to ensure credibility.

The former Minister of Justice explained that for any allegation of corruption or bribery to hold weight, adequate details must be provided.

He added that allegations lacking adequate particulars remain baseless, mischievous, and devoid of actionable grounds for legal pursuit.

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The acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, has announced her resignation in a two-sentence letter that does not reference the Department of Justice, DOJ, directive.

Sassoon reportedly resigned after being ordered by the Justice Department to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor, Eric Adams.

Sassoon had been leading the case, which involved charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations.

Adams had pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for April, this year.

Earlier this week, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had directed federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York City to drop all charges against Adam.

In a memo, Bove said the indictment could impact the upcoming mayoral election.

The memo added that the case may be reviewed again after the November 2025 mayoral election.

It also noted that no further investigate steps should be taken on Adams until then.

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In a statement issued to newsmen, the World Bank disclosed that the project aimed at providing targeted financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households was compromised due to several unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract process.

The bank said that Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and accessed confidential tender information from public officials.

Read Also: World Bank Releases $1.5bn To Nigeria After Subsidy Removal, Tax Bills

It added that these actions constituted fraudulent and collusive practices under its Anti-corruption Framework.

The World Bank further noted that Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and provided inducements to project officials, which it classified as corrupt practices.

These violations, according to the bank, undermined the integrity of the social safety net initiative designed to benefit Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

The debarment precludes the two companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the specified period.

As part of their settlement agreements, the parties acknowledged their culpability and committed to meeting specified conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.

The conditions require Didam to complete individual ethics training, while the companies are mandated to improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programmes in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.

The bank highlighted that reduced debarment periods were granted due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts, and the time elapsed since the infractions.

The World Bank reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in development projects, stressing that the sanctions demonstrate its zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

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