The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday arraigned two officials of the Federal
Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos, for allegedly diverting salaries of
former staff amounting to ?1.17 million.
The defendants, Shola Onasanya (Chief Accountant)
and Halimat Olalere (Principal Executive Officer, Accounts), attached to
the IPPIS Payroll Desk Office, were brought before Justice Ibrahim Kala
of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
According to the ICPC, the duo failed to stop salary
payments of employees who had exited service and unlawfully converted the funds
to personal use — an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money
Laundering Prohibition Act 2022.
The prosecution alleged that between January and
December 2023, Onasanya instructed Olalere to alter account details so she
could continue receiving the salaries of former employees, which she
subsequently transferred into his account.
When the amended charge was read in court, both
defendants pleaded guilty, having entered into a plea bargain agreement
with the Commission. Prosecutor Enosa Omoghibo then applied under Section 270
of the ACJA 2015 for the plea bargain to be adopted as judgment.
Justice Kala, however, noted that under Section 274
of the ACJA, a conviction cannot rest on guilty pleas alone without
supporting evidence. He therefore adjourned the matter to September 18, 2025,
for review of the facts and consideration of the plea bargain.
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