ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING: EX-HOS OYO-ITA COMMENDS COURT OVER ACQUITTAL
Read Time:2 Minute, 5 Second
By; Ganiyat Sunmola
Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, has expressed deep gratitude to God following her acquittal of alleged money laundering charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
After a six-year legal battle, Justice James Omotosho cleared her of all charges, describing the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as frivolous and malicious.
The verdict triggered emotional reactions in court, with supporters celebrating what they described as a victory for justice.
In a statement by her media aide, Ofem Uket, Oyo-Ita was described as a reform-driven leader whose tenure significantly reshaped Nigeria’s public service for sustainable development.
The statement noted that she ranks among the most impactful Heads of Service in the country’s history, highlighting reforms between 2018 and 2019 that reportedly saved over ₦288 billion through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
According to Uket, the savings stemmed from efforts to eliminate payroll fraud, including the removal of ghost workers and curbing financial leakages.
Oyo-Ita also spearheaded the Asset Tracking Management Project (ATMP) to improve oversight of government assets and worked on the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), which reportedly generated an additional ₦208.4 billion in savings through payroll audits.
Her administration introduced the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), aimed at modernising operations, enhancing accountability, and improving service delivery across ministries, departments, and agencies.
She also promoted the “EPIC” culture—Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible, and Citizen-Centred—which gained adoption across the public service.
The statement further highlighted her commitment to digital transformation, including the rollout of a paperless system through the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform, boosting efficiency and information management.
In addition, she oversaw the digitisation of personnel records, laying the foundation for the human resource module of IPPIS, and facilitated the training of over 1,000 civil servants within three years.
Oyo-Ita also upgraded the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) with improved facilities to strengthen capacity development.
To motivate workers, she introduced a Reward and Recognition Policy for outstanding civil servants and supported the creation of the Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance to reduce wasteful spending.
She also prioritised staff welfare through the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme, aimed at addressing housing needs among civil servants.
The statement concluded that despite her legal challenges, Oyo-Ita’s legacy remains defined by transparency, reform, and a strong commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s public service.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0