Oyo-Ita Vindicated: Federal High Court Dismisses All Charges After Six Years

By Okpashi Odama

Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, has been discharged and acquitted of alleged money laundering charges by the Federal High Court in Abuja, bringing to an end a prolonged six-year legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho cleared Oyo-Ita of all allegations, describing the case as lacking merit.
The verdict was met with relief and celebration by her supporters, who regarded the outcome as a triumph of justice.
In a statement released by her media aide, Ofem Uket, Oyo-Ita expressed gratitude to God for her vindication, noting that her acquittal reaffirmed her long-held stance on the issue.
The statement further highlighted her contributions to public service reforms during her tenure, describing her as one of the most impactful Heads of the Civil Service in Nigeria’s history.
According to Uket, reforms introduced under her leadership between 2018 and 2019, particularly through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), resulted in savings exceeding N288 billion by eliminating payroll irregularities and reducing leakages.
He added that Oyo-Ita played a significant role in removing ghost workers from the federal civil service, a move that curtailed waste and improved efficiency.
Her administration also implemented the Asset Tracking Management Project (ATMP) to monitor and manage government assets, alongside the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), which reportedly saved over N208.4 billion through payroll audits.
Beyond financial reforms, Oyo-Ita led the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP), a broad framework designed to modernise operations, strengthen accountability, and improve service delivery across ministries and agencies.
She also promoted the “EPIC” culture, which emphasised an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible, and Citizen-Centred civil service, making it a guiding principle during her tenure.
Uket further noted her efforts in driving digital transformation within the public sector, including the introduction of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems and the digitisation of personnel records, which laid the foundation for improved human resource management under IPPIS.
Additionally, over 1,000 civil servants were trained across various sectors within three years, while the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) was upgraded with enhanced facilities to support capacity development.
To boost morale, Oyo-Ita introduced a Reward and Recognition Policy for outstanding civil servants and supported the establishment of the Efficiency Unit in the Ministry of Finance to reduce wasteful spending.
Her tenure also focused on staff welfare through the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme, aimed at addressing housing challenges faced by civil servants.
The court’s decision marks a major turning point for Oyo-Ita, closing a chapter that has lasted since her arraignment and reaffirming her legacy in Nigeria’s public service reform efforts.