Two officials of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have pleaded guilty before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to diverting salaries of former employees of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta.
The defendants — Shola Onasanya, a Chief Accountant, and Halimat Olalere, a Principal Executive Officer of Accounts — were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on an amended two-count charge of corruption and money laundering.
The ICPC alleged that the duo exploited their positions at the FMC payroll desk between January and December 2023 to divert N1.17 million, salaries belonging to staff who had exited the service, into private accounts.
According to the prosecution, Olalere substituted her personal bank account to receive the salaries of the former staff, while Onasanya allegedly directed her to transfer the proceeds into his own account.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, ICPC counsel, Mr. Enosa Omoghibo, informed the court of a plea bargain agreement entered into by the defendants. He applied that the amended charge be read to them after securing the court’s leave.
Both defendants pleaded guilty.
Omoghibo, relying on Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, urged the court to adopt the plea bargain as judgment. He explained that the agreement was supported by a statement of facts and verifying affidavit.
However, presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Kala, cautioned that the court could not convict the defendants on their guilty pleas alone without evidence from the prosecution.
He referred the ICPC counsel to Section 274 of the ACJA, stressing that proof of evidence must still be presented.
“Even where defendants plead guilty, the prosecution still has a duty to lay evidence before the court. A conviction cannot rest on confession alone,” Justice Kala held.
Following this, the defence counsel sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution present the necessary facts. Justice Kala subsequently adjourned the case to September 18 for review of facts.
The alleged offences contravene Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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