Winifred Oyo-Ita

Winifred Oyo-Ita
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
In office
6 January 2016 – 18 September 2019
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byDanladi Kifasi
Succeeded byFolashade Yemi-Esan
Personal details
Born (1964-04-20) April 20, 1964
Cross River State, Nigeria
EducationUniversity of Lagos
Nasarawa State University
ProfessionAccountant, civil servant

Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita (born 20 April 1964) is a Nigerian accountant and retired civil servant who served as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation from January 2016 until September 2019. She was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and was the third woman to hold the position of head of Nigeria's federal civil service.[1][2]

Before she became head of the civil service, Oyo-Ita served as permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service, including at the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.[3]

Oyo-Ita was investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of fraud and money laundering. She was asked to proceed on leave, and later tried and acquitted by the Federal High Court.[4][5][6]

Early life and education

Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita was born on 20 April 1964 in Cross River State, Nigeria and is from Adiabo in the Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.[7]

She studied at Queen's College, Lagos and at Federal Government College, Malali, Kaduna, where she obtained her senior school certificate. She proceeded to the University of Lagos, where she studied accounting and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1984; later, she earned a master's degree in public administration from Nasarawa State University.[7]

Oyo-Ita holds the position of Fellow with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).[1]

Career

Private sector

Oyo-Ita began her career in the private sector, and from 1993 to 1995 she was Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Cross River Estates Limited.[7]

Federal Civil Service

Oyo-Ita entered the Federal Civil Service in 1997 and, while working in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, advanced through the ranks in the finance and accounts cadre. She was appointed Director of Finance and Accounts in January 2009.[8]

In March 2013, she was appointed permanent secretary and assigned to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs; thereafter, she was redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in April 2014.[3]

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

In October 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari named Oyo-Ita as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, replacing Danladi Kifasi. She took office on 6 January 2016.[2]

While she was in office, Oyo-Ita promoted a number of reforms aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal civil service. The office drew up the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2017–2020 (FCSSIP), whose main objective was to achieve an "Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred" civil service.[9]

The strategy involved reforms in human resource management, staff development, technology, performance management, and service delivery.[10]

In 2018, Oyo-Ita introduced the Public Service Learning Management System, an online platform which was intended to assist with the training and professional development of civil servants.[11]

The office also promoted the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme, which aimed to help federal civil servants access affordable housing through partnerships between government organisations and private developers.[12]

In 2018, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service commissioned a culture diagnostic survey that raised concerns about nepotism in appointments and promotions within the federal civil service. The survey received responses from 5,876 employees and was conducted as part of the civil service reform strategy.[13]

Leave of absence and retirement

In September 2019, Oyo-Ita was asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence while the EFCC investigated allegations of fraud and money laundering.[4]

Folashade Yemi-Esan was made acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation after Oyo-Ita had left the post.[14]

In February 2020, President Buhari approved the retirement of Oyo-Ita from the Federal Civil Service, with effect from 27 February 2020; Yemi-Esan was then confirmed as substantive Head of the Civil Service.[5]

EFCC case

In March 2020, the EFCC presented Oyo-Ita, along with eight other defendants, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 18 counts of fraud and money laundering. The charges concerned about ₦570 million and cited allegations regarding duty tour allowances, estacodes, conference fees and contracts.[15][16]

Oyo-Ita denied the charges. The prosecution presented eight witnesses during the trial and submitted documentary evidence.[17]

Acquittal

On 5 May 2026, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja agreed with the no-case arguments put forward by Oyo-Ita and her eight co-defendants and set them free, acquitting them on all 18 counts.[6]

The court concluded that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against the defendants. Justice Omotosho said that the prosecution's case relied on speculation, suspicion and an inadequate investigation, and determined that the essential elements needed to prove the alleged money-laundering offences had not been shown.[17]

The court also concluded that the prosecution had not proven that the funds allegedly received by Oyo-Ita were proceeds from illegal activities and therefore accepted the defendants' submissions that no case could be made, discharging and acquitting them on all the charges.[18]

Awards and honours

  • National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) — Oyo-Ita received the award in 2018.[19]
  • Mayegun of Okemesi — a traditional title conferred on Oyo-Ita by the monarch of Okemesi, Ekiti State, in January 2018.[20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Buhari appoints Oyo-Ita as new Head of Service". Vanguard. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Buhari swears in Oyo-Ita as head of service". The Guardian Nigeria. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "OYO-ITA, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Buhari sends HOS Oyo-Ita on indefinite leave". The Guardian Nigeria. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Buhari confirms Yemi-Esan as HoS, approves Oyo-Ita's retirement". Punch. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Court clears former Head of Service Oyo-Ita, others of N570m fraud charges". Premium Times. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Profile: Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita" (PDF). Inoyo Toro Foundation. 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Faced with Trial over Alleged N3bn Fraud, Oyo-Ita Retires". ThisDay. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "FG to Revolutionalize The Nigeria Public Service". Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Oyo-Ita Records Another First, Inaugurates Teams For 2017-2020 Civil Service Implementation Plan". The Whistler. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "HoS, Launched the Public Service Learning Management System (PSLMS) in Abuja". Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Winifred Oyo-Ita commissions Federal Integrated Staff Housing, presents Handbooks and Website on Scheme". Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nepotism affecting civil service recruitment, promotion —Report". Punch. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Buhari replaces embattled Oyo-Ita, ex-HoS faces EFCC". Punch. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "FRN vs Winifred Oyo-Ita (Former Head of Civil Service of the Federation) & 8 others". Corruption Cases Nigeria. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Absence of judge stalls Oyo-Ita's trial". Premium Times. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  17. 1 2 "N570m fraud: Court discharges, acquits ex-HoS Oyo-Ita after six years". Punch. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "After Six Years, Court Frees Former HoS Oyo-Ita in N570m Fraud Charge". ThisDay. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Oyo-Ita Bags 2018 National Productivity Order of Merit Award". ThisDay. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Ekiti state Monarch honours Civil service Head". P.M. News. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
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