By Kenneth Orusi, Managing Editor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its scrutiny of financial and personnel records in Delta State, extending its ongoing verification and investigative exercise to several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) amid concerns over payroll integrity, ghost workers and other administrative irregularities.
The development, which has quietly unfolded over the past year, especially last week’s visit, signals a deeper anti-corruption push by the anti-graft agency into the operations of state institutions.
Findings indicate that the EFCC requested access to personnel records and nominal rolls from selected government establishments as part of a broader effort to verify workforce data and investigate possible financial infractions within the public service.
However, the Delta State Government has dismissed insinuations of wrongdoing, insisting that the exercise is routine and being conducted with the full cooperation of the state administration.
Addressing journalists on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Asaba, the state capital, the Head of Service, Delta State, Dr. (Mrs.) Mininim Oseji, confirmed that the EFCC had been engaging the state government since last year over the screening exercise.
According to her, the anti-graft agency formally requested meetings with government officials and sought access to personnel records as part of investigations it was conducting across states.
“EFCC has visited Delta State on their own since last year. They wrote and requested for officials to visit their office and they discussed that they wanted to see our people, our nominal roll because they have been doing this in states and there are these issues of ghost workers and they have the legal backing to do investigation in anything that is untoward in this area,” Oseji said.
She disclosed that upon receiving the request from the commission, she forwarded the correspondence to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for directives.
“When they came and delivered a letter to me requesting that they wanted to screen not all but some MDAs, I sent it up to His Excellency the Governor and asked what our response should be.
“His Excellency the Governor said we should go ahead, that Delta State has nothing to hide and he has been very transparent about all these administrative procedures.”
Oseji explained that following the governor’s approval, the state government designated a senior official to work with the EFCC team and facilitate access to relevant government offices.
“So we replied and said yes, His Excellency has given approval and then we delegated a senior official to guide them and then to go to the relevant offices. We discussed with the Chief Accounting Officers of those MDAs and let them know that this is what is happening,” she stated.
The Head of Service further revealed that her office was among those screened by the EFCC, stressing that she voluntarily subjected herself to the exercise despite suggestions that she could be exempted because of her status.
“The Office of the Head of Service is one of those offices that have been screened. They wanted to ask me to forget about being screened, to waive off that opportunity but I declined and I said no.
“Yes, I know I’m a top government functionary and I can be excused for it but as the number one civil servant, I want to lead by example. So I insisted on being screened.”
She said the commission requested official documents relating to her career progression in the service, including her first appointment letter, identification card and appointment letter as Head of Service.
“They asked me for my letter of first appointment. I provided it along with my change of name because my letter of first appointment is in my maiden name.
“They asked me for my ID card. I gave it to them. They asked me for my last appointment which is appointment as Head of Service. I gave them all those things and they were satisfied.”
While acknowledging the sensitivity of the exercise, Oseji maintained that relations between the state government and the EFCC have remained cordial throughout the process.
“And so far we have not had any conflicts. I’m always being briefed regularly by the officer that is carrying them around,” she said.
The EFCC has yet to publicly disclose the outcome of its ongoing screening and verification exercise in Delta State or indicate whether any infractions have been uncovered.
However, the development has drawn attention to the commission’s increasing focus on payroll management, personnel audits and financial accountability within public institutions across the country.
