The Abia State Government has dismissed six officers from the Ministry of Justice after an internal audit and administrative inquiry revealed that they manipulated payroll systems to receive excess salaries.

The announcement was contained in a statement signed on Thursday by the Chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, Eno Eze.

The affected officers are:

  • Mr. Dickson Uche Eze, Principal Accountant (SGL 12)

  • Mrs. Esther Emeruwa, Senior Accountant (SGL 10)

  • Mrs. Ijeoma Jonathan, Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14)

  • Mrs. Treasure Isinguzo, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13)

  • Mrs. Chioma Victoria Erondu, Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12)

  • Mrs. Hannah Ezinne Eze, Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09)

The commission explained that the officers were found to have “knowingly benefitted from irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state.”

However, Mrs. Chioma Favour Madu, who was also investigated, was cleared of wrongdoing after she promptly reported the overpayment and took steps to correct it.

The statement further disclosed that the probe raised concerns about possible complicity of some members of the Salary Committee, prompting the governor to order a fresh investigation into the committee’s activities.

Eze stressed that those indicted will be handed over to law enforcement for prosecution, noting that the dismissals underscore the administration’s commitment to transparency and zero tolerance for corruption in public service.

The development comes days after the EFCC declared former commissioner Christopher Enweremadu wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.