Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is facing growing pressure to identify and prosecute government officials and beneficiaries allegedly behind the creation of 908 suspected ghost workers uncovered across federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The demand follows the final forfeiture of N941,994,079.86 linked to suspected fraud involving the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently ordered the permanent forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government after the ICPC traced the money to accounts allegedly connected to the payroll scheme.

In the ruling, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the transfer of ownership of the recovered funds to the Federal Government.

The recovery has renewed calls for the investigation to move beyond the deletion of fictitious names and recovery of funds to the identification of those who created, authorised and benefited from the alleged payroll fraud.

The disclosure has also strengthened concerns over possible insider involvement in the manipulation of government payroll systems.

Bayo Akinlade, a lawyer, has called for the prosecution of officials involved in processing payments to suspected ghost workers, saying those responsible must answer for the alleged embezzlement, mismanagement and diversion of public funds.

Akinlade urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC to secure at least one conviction in the ghost-workers cases, arguing that a successful prosecution would serve as a deterrent.

According to Omale Ajonye, also a lawyer, if investigators establish that public payrolls were deliberately manipulated to create fictitious workers and divert public funds, those responsible could face charges including conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust, stealing or fraudulent conversion of public funds, forgery, abuse of office, money laundering, and aiding or abetting, depending on the evidence.

However, he said innocent recipients must be distinguished from those who knowingly participated in the fraud.

According to the lawyer, Nigeria already has extensive legal provisions under the Criminal Code, Penal Code, EFCC Act, Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, alongside public financial-management laws.

The suspected ghost workers, according to ICPC, were identified across several major government institutions.

The Nigeria Police Force recorded the highest number, with 570 suspected ghost workers, followed by the National Water Resources Authority with 80 and the Federal Ministry of Works with 56.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence recorded 24 and 19 respectively, while other affected institutions included Power, Industry, Trade and Investment, Health and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior were also affected, with investigations continuing.

The spread of suspected cases across multiple MDAs has heightened concerns about vulnerabilities in government payroll systems and the possibility of similar methods being used in other institutions.

For the anti-corruption agency, the recovery of N941.9 million represents a significant financial outcome. However, for Nigerians, identifying and prosecuting those responsible for creating and sustaining the alleged ghost-worker network would provide a stronger accountability test.