Zamfara State 'baby on payroll' ghost-employee case

Public-sector payroll-fraud case in Zamfara State surfaced circa 2011 in which a newborn baby was placed on the state government payroll and earned approximately $150 per month for over two years, collected by the child's father. State records additionally showed the 'employee' as holding a diploma despite being listed as a newborn. Cited by Okekeocha (2013) as a representative payroll-scam case study; the 'ridiculous names and ages' on payroll lists 'are rarely audited'.