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Breaking News: ICPC Secures Conviction of Retired Public Servant
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has secured the conviction of Mr Dare Adebowale Oladapo, a former Deputy Director at the Kwara State Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, for falsifying his age and fraudulently receiving salaries and allowances for four months after his due retirement from service.
The conviction was delivered by Honourable Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, under Charge No. KWS/64C/2022.
The case originated from a petition submitted to the ICPC by Ilorin-based legal practitioner F. F. Ikebundu, Esq., of Ayo Ajomole & Co.
Investigations by the Commission revealed that the defendant falsified his date of birth to unlawfully extend his years of service, thereby conferring an undue advantage upon himself.
Prosecuting counsels to the ICPC, Kalu Ugbo and Zainab Moshood, informed the court that the defendant’s fraudulent actions led to the receipt of unearned salaries and allowances amounting to N1,233,258.95 between 2019 and 2020.
Specifically, Count One, relating to the defendant’s corrupt act of altering his date of birth at the National Population Commission to prolong his years of service in the public sector, constitutes an offence contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Count Two similarly charged the defendant with contravening Section 25(1)(a), punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the same Act.
The charge detailed that the defendant made a false statement on oath in an affidavit dated February 15, 2012, in which he maintained a falsified date of birth, November 11, 1964, instead of November 11, 1959 and used it to alter his official records at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development since joining the service in 1997.
Count Three read: “That you, Dare Adebowale Oladapo, on or about the months of December 2019 to April 2020 at Ilorin, Kwara State, as Deputy Director in the service of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, used your said office to confer unfair advantage upon yourself in the sum of N1,233,258.95k (one million, two hundred and thirty-three thousand, two hundred and fifty-eight naira, ninety-five kobo), being salaries and allowances earned by you from December 2019 to April 2020 when you ought to have retired from the public service but manipulated your record to extend your service years, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
After a thorough trial, Justice Yusuf found Mr Oladapo guilty on counts One and Two for making a false statement and conferring a corrupt advantage upon himself, in violation of Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
However, the court discharged and acquitted him on Count Three.
Consequently, the court sentenced the defendant to two years’ imprisonment, with an option of a N100,000 fine on each of the two counts.
In addition, the court ordered him to refund the total sum of N1,233,258.95 to the Federal Government, representing the salaries and allowances he unlawfully received during the four months he overstayed in service.
Following the judgment, the convict promptly paid the N200,000 fine for counts One and Two and refunded the full sum of N1,233,258.95 into the ICPC Recovery Account as directed by the court.
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Ogun State Government Announces Pension, Gratuity Backlog Clearance Between 2012 and 2020
The Ogun State Government has announced the clearance of pension and gratuity arrears owed to workers who retired between 2012 and 2020, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of retirees.
The Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media parley organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Budget and Planning.
Okubadejo explained that the backlog was linked to the Defined Benefits Scheme, under which retirees receive monthly pension payments, stressing that the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has not defaulted on pension obligations since assuming office.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have not missed a single month of pension payment. What we inherited were arrears tied to the Defined Benefits Scheme,” he said.
According to him, annual pension payments rose from ₦6.7 billion in 2019 to ₦20 billion in 2025, with projections showing a possible increase to ₦40 billion by 2029.
He disclosed that the state had so far paid ₦23.3 billion in gratuities covering retirees from 2012 to 2020, alongside ₦32.8 billion in outstanding gratuities for local government retirees inherited by the administration.
Okubadejo added that between 2019 and July 2, 2025, the state disbursed ₦93.26 billion in pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme and ₦94.78 billion to local government pensioners.
He assured that the remaining backlog would be cleared as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) continues to improve, noting that over 300 workers who retired in July 2025 are currently receiving six-month palliatives pending the completion of their pension documentation.
The commissioner also described the newly approved Additional Pension Benefits (APB) as the first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that amendments to the state’s pension law would be pursued to formally integrate the scheme.
On the state’s fiscal outlook, Okubadejo revealed that the 2026 budget increased from ₦1.054 trillion in 2025 to ₦1.668 trillion, while Ogun’s economy expanded from ₦3.5 trillion in 2019 to ₦18.96 trillion in 2026.
He added that IGR grew from ₦50 billion in 2019 to ₦240 billion in 2025, with projections of ₦512 billion this year.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Olaolu Olabimtan, said the 2026 budget reflects strong fiscal reforms, noting an 85 per cent budget execution rate in 2024 and sustained financial stability.
Other commissioners highlighted sectoral achievements, including massive road construction, increased healthcare funding, rail extension plans, education support programmes, and expanded housing projects across the state.
African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s future and vote for a change in leadership.
Obi spoke at a meeting with Hausa/Fulani chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We have to talk about the future of our country. All of you know what is happening to our country today. That’s why we are campaigning that you vote out this government,” he said.
He described the situation in Nigeria as dire, citing insecurity, hunger and hardship.
“today we have insecurity across Nigeria. We have hunger across Nigeria. We are suffering across Nigeria. The only thing that is working in Nigeria today is bad news. Every morning you wake up is bad news,” Obi stated.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate said a new administration would prioritize social services.
“We’re urging you to vote for a change and bring a new Nigeria, where our children will be in school. Our hospitals will work,” he added.
Obi also questioned government spending priorities, particularly in the health sector.
“today, if you’re sick in Nigeria you’re praying to Almighty God because we’re now in a country where our president spends 360 billion to buy and refit his plane and spends 36 million in capital vote for the Ministry of Health. There’s nothing working,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to use their votes to usher in what he described as a “new Nigeria” focused on improving citizens’ welfare and restoring key public services.
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