The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arraigned the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winnifred Oyo-Ita, over alleged N3bn graft. Oyo-Ita was arraigned before a judge at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The ex-HOS was arrested in August last year for alleged abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering and stealing of government funds and released on administrative bail after spending four days in the custody of the commission.

She was sacked in September last year after about N600m was allegedly found in the bank account of her aide.

The EFCC allege that about N3 billion was traced to her, money said to be kickbacks on contracts, illegal estacodes and duty tour allowances received from the government.

“During investigation, it was discovered that Oyo-Ita, in her roles in the civil service as Director, Permanent Secretary and Head of Service, used her companies as well as Effiok and Umar’s companies as fronts to receive kickbacks from contractors of various ministries and parastatals where she worked.

“The former head of service in collusion with Effiok who was her Special Assistant, along with one Titus Tomsin, made bogus claims of fictitious DTA, estacodes, conference fees which were paid by the government to the accounts of the suspects,” the EFCC said.