Murtala Aliyu Ibrahim

Murtala Aliyu Ibrahim is a Nigerian chartered accountant, banker, academic and whistleblower. He worked in the Internal Audit directorate at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), where he raised concerns about financial reporting and procurement practices. His disclosures and the responses that followed led to dismissal in 2017, reinstatement in 2018 and a second dismissal in 2019, drawing national attention to whistleblower protection in Nigeria. In February 2025 the National Industrial Court held that Ibrahim had already resigned his FMBN employment in May 2019 and that a subsequent dismissal letter was therefore of no effect. He has taught accounting and finance at Baze University, Abuja.

Ibrahim served in the Internal Audit Group at FMBN, including roles in process audit and special investigations. In 2016 he and colleagues questioned a management half year report that showed a surplus of ₦423.7 million, stating that audit review indicated a loss rather than a profit. They also raised red flags on contract awards and spending connected to the rehabilitation of Mamman Kontagora House in Lagos. On 8 May 2017 FMBN terminated his appointment. After a ministerial review and civil society advocacy, he was reinstated in December 2018. In September 2019 the bank again issued a dismissal letter to him, an action reported at the time by national media.

Ibrahim challenged matters arising from the 2019 dismissal at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria. In a judgment delivered on 26 February 2025 the court dismissed both his claims and the bank's counterclaims. The court held that he had effectively resigned on 9 May 2019 and therefore the bank lacked authority to dismiss him in September 2019, making that dismissal a nullity. The court also declined the bank's request to compel a refund of earnings paid to him during a period he lectured at Baze University.

During his dispute with FMBN, Ibrahim taught in the Department of Accounting and Finance at Baze University in Abuja. Court reporting in 2025 noted his lecturing role there in 2018 and confirmed that he was entitled to seek other employment during his earlier period out of service. His research covers banking risk and intellectual capital.

Ibrahim's case has been cited by civic groups in debates on whistleblower protection and accountability in public institutions. He won the whistleblowing category of the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards in Lagos on 10 December 2019, organised by HEDA Resource Centre with support from the MacArthur Foundation. Provided by Wikipedia