- Six individuals charged with payroll fraud and corruption
- Accused face 17 counts, allegedly causing financial loss to the state
- OSP files charges at High Court in Tamale, Northern Region
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed charges against six individuals at the High Court in Tamale, Northern Region, for offenses related to payroll fraud and corruption. The accused individuals are facing 17 counts of corruption, with allegations of causing financial loss to the state.
The individuals charged include Yakubu Tahidu, Abdulai Abukari Sadic, Sammy Suuk, Mohammed Yusif Jay, Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, and Osman Issahaku.
According to a statement from the OSP, the case arose from a referral by National Security, which raised concerns about Yakubu Tahidu, a former teacher. Despite no longer holding a teaching position, Tahidu allegedly continued to receive salaries while employed at another government agency.
The other accused individuals are said to have knowingly facilitated the fraudulent payments or failed to prevent them from occurring.
Yakubu Tahidu, who previously worked as a teacher at Balogu M/A JHS, is accused of unlawfully receiving salaries after leaving his teaching position to join the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).
Abdulai Abukari Sadic, the Yendi Municipal IPPD Coordinator, and Sammy Suuk, a Schools Improvement Support Officer, are accused of facilitating the salary validation process for Tahidu.
Mohammed Yusif Jay, the former headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, is alleged to have validated the salaries despite being reassigned to a different school.
Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, an Assistant Chief Accounts Technician at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, is accused of assisting in the processing of the fraudulent payments.
Osman Issahaku, the current headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, is charged with continuing to validate the irregular salary payments.
The case remains under investigation as the accused face legal proceedings.
