OSP Charges Teacher, 5 Others Over Payroll Fraud and Corruption
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged six people, including a teacher, with payroll fraud and corruption.
In a statement on February 17, 2025, the Office said the accused persons are standing trial for 17 counts of corruption, alleged to have caused financial loss to the state at the Tamale High Court in the Northern Region.
The case was referred to the OSP by National Security.
The accused persons have been identified as Yakubu Tahidu, a former teacher of Balogu M/A JHS; Abdulai Abukari Sadic, the Yendi Municipal IPPD Coordinator; and Sammy Suuk, a Schools Improvement Support Officer.
Also included are Mohammed Yusif Jay, the former headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS; Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, an Assistant Chief Accounts Technician at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department; and Osman Issahaku, the current headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has brought charges against six individuals at the High Court in Tamale, Northern Region, for offences relating to payroll fraud and corruption,” the OSP’s statement announced.
According to the statement, Yakubu Tahidu, after vacating his teaching duty to join Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), continued to receive salaries.
The Office further alleges that while Abdulai Abukari Sadic, and Sammy Suuk, are accused of facilitating salary validations for the first accused, Mohammed Yusif Jay, the former headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, and Osman Issahaku, the current headteacher, allegedly validated the salaries.
Additionally, it faults Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, an Assistant Chief Accounts Technician at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, for allegedly aiding the processing of fraudulent payments.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
