In a country where calls for transparency in government are louder than ever, a recent case in Lagos reminds us that the fight against corruption is far from over, but progress is being made.
EpeInsights gathered that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully convicted Emmanuel Ogunyemi, a Lagos-based civil servant, for receiving salaries from two government agencies at the same time.
According to the ICPC, Ogunyemi was simultaneously drawing paychecks from both the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
This double-dipping added up to a whopping ₦3.49 million in unearned income.
When the facts came to light, the ICPC didn’t waste time. The commission filed an eight-count charge against Ogunyemi at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. But rather than contest the charges, Ogunyemi opted for a plea bargain, which reduced the charges to three and likely saved him from a prison sentence.
Justice Ismail Ijelu accepted the plea and handed down a non-custodial sentence; a ₦1.5 million fine, three days of community service and a ₦5 million bond of good behaviour, which will be forfeited if he offends again
Before the court proceedings began, Ogunyemi voluntarily refunded the full ₦3.49 million, which has now been officially forfeited to the federal government.
He also submitted a written undertaking promising to abide by the law going forward.
The prosecution was led by Yvonne William-Mbata and supported by legal counsel from Roseline Eze and Oluwayemisi Pereira. Ogunyemi was represented by Kehinde Adeleke.
While the story could be seen as another drop in the ocean of public sector scandals, it also represents a small but significant win in the fight for accountability.
The ICPC has called this case part of its broader push to enforce ethical standards and restore trust in public institutions. 
