Three former NSW ministers have been hit with criminal charges flowing on from ICAC investigations five years ago.

The corruption watchdog made findings against the trio of Eddie Obeid, Joe Tripodi, and Tony Kelly in 2017.

The ICAC investigation found a “deceptive” cabinet submission was allegedly made to help an Eddie Obeid-related company secure a multimillion-dollar partnership.

Five years on, all three Labor ministers have been charged with misconduct in public office and have been confirmed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions overnight.

Obeid was sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison last October for his role in conspiring to commit wilful misconduct in public office.

The Sydney Morning Herald chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont told Ray Hadley the case hearing will play out over a few years.

“The wheels of justice will roll very slowly.”

Press PLAY below to hear Kate McClymont’s analysis

Image: Nine, Getty/Paul McConnell