The Federal Government ok. Tuesday suspended the salaries of 243 civil searvants who failed to participate in the verification exercises organised by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The affected workers are suspected to be ghost workers, as they failed to update their records online on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

This was contained in a circular with the reference number: HCSF/CSO/HRM/1137/Vol.1/T6/31 signed by the Permanent Secretary,Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation,Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the Federal Government had on December 26, 2021, threatened to suspend the salaries of 1,173 of its workers by January, 2022, if they fail to comply with the directives.

The circular partly reads: “It will be recalled that in an effort to roll out the human resource module of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation issued various circulars calling on public servants to update their records online on the IPPIS verification platform.

“The office carried out sensitisation and publicity in both the print and audio media to further draw the attention of public servants to this very important exercise.

“The exercise was meant to facilitate the identification of ‘ghost’ workers in order to curtail avoidable financial excesses in personnel costs, while also ensuring credible staff records.

“Consequently, the verification portal was opened for all public servants from April 2017 to May 2018 to enable them to carry out the online records’ updates. Another opportunity was given from November 2019 to March 2020.

“However, despite all the publicity and circulars to Ministries, Department and Agencies, some employees in the core MDAs did not comply with this directive and were suspected as ‘ghost’ workers.

“The salaries of 243 officers in the attached list have been suspended from the IPPIS platform immediately. Officers in the list are, therefore, advised to appear in person at the office of the Permanent Secretary, CMO of the OHCSF before April 15, 2022, with all relevant documents and credentials to prove that they were duly employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission.”

The affected workers are drawn from the Ministries of Information and Culture; Labour and Employment; Agriculture and Rural Development; Education; Works and Housing; and Youth and Sports Development.

Other departments and agencies where ghost workers were uncovered, according to the circular, include the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and some Federal Government Colleges across the country.

The scheduled arraignment of a former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was on Tuesday, stalled at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Okorocha was to be docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 17-count criminal charge.

Recall that Okorocha was governor of Imo state from 2011 to 2019, and presently a Senator representing Imo west in the National Assembly.

The anti graft agency hinted that, Senator Okorocha, who is believed to be having a running battle with Governor Hope Uzodimma is being charged to court over allegation of conspiracy with his cronies, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to fritter the sum of N2.9 billion public funds belonging to the Imo state government.

More so, to be docked alongside Okorocha, are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

When the matter came up on Tuesday, all the other defendants were present in court except the former governor.

Oba Maduabuchi SAN, announced representation for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th defendants, while Darlington Ozurumba appeared for the 5th defendant.

Similarly, the prosecution, Cosmas Ugwu informed the court that the 1st defendant, Rochas Okorocha was not in court because he had not been served with the charge.

“My Lord, the matter would have been for arraignment of the defendants but the 1st defendant is not in court.
“Effecting service on him has been difficult, but we have served all other defendants.

“We need another date to enable us effect service on the 1st defendant” the EFCC lawyer pleaded with the court.
Meanwhile, trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned to March 28, by 12noon, for arraignment.

Detained former Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Force Intelligence Bureau, Nigerian Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court Abuja, against the Federal Government.

The suit filed on DCP Kyari’s behalf by his lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, was brought pursuant to Order 11 Rule 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rule 2009.

By the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, the plaintiff wants an order of court directing the Federal Government to him the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) for unlawful violation of his constitutional right provided for in Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Consutution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The applicant also is praying for a declaration that his arrest and continuing detention by agent of the FG without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction from 12th of February 2022 till date is “illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of Applicants’ fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Article 6 of the African Charter on human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act”.