The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the final forfeiture of N941,994,079.86 linked to suspected payroll fraud involving ghost workers, following an investigation into irregularities in the Federal Government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The development follows a Federal High Court order in Abuja directing that the recovered funds be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Binta Nyako granted the ICPC’s application for the final forfeiture of the money, which the commission had seized during its investigation into suspected unlawful activities connected to the payroll system. Channels Television reported that the court order was issued on July 13, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/156/2026.
The ICPC’s wider investigation has uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers across at least 50 federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), according to figures disclosed by ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu.
The commission said the investigation began in 2024 and was aimed at identifying fictitious employees and stopping fraudulent salary payments from the federal payroll.
The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number of suspected ghost workers, with 570 names identified during the exercise. The National Water Resources Authority followed with 80, while the Federal Ministry of Works had 56 suspected cases.
Other institutions affected included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 24 suspected ghost workers, the Ministry of Defence with 19, and the Federal Ministry of Electricity and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with 17 each. The Federal Ministry of Health had 15, while 12 were identified within the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Aliyu also disclosed a case in which an individual allegedly inserted the names of his wife, son and mother-in-law into the federal payroll while collecting salaries associated with 12 other fictitious workers.
The ICPC chairman explained that ghost workers are fictitious names inserted into government payrolls to facilitate the payment and diversion of salaries meant for legitimate employees.
The investigation has also raised questions about how individuals were able to manipulate the payroll system despite the use of digital verification and other safeguards.
The ICPC has continued its investigation into the suspected payroll fraud, with attention focused on identifying those allegedly responsible for creating or benefiting from the fictitious payroll entries.
The latest forfeiture therefore represents a significant financial recovery in the investigation, while the broader probe into the suspected ghost-worker network and those responsible remains ongoing.
