From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two staff members of the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for defrauding job seekers of N4.8 million under the guise of securing employment at federal agencies.
According to Demola Bakare of ICPC, the convicted officials were found guilty of deceiving two victims, Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar, by promising them job placements at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
According to the Commission, the case originated from a petition (No. ICPC/P/NC/1056/2022) submitted by the victims, who alleged that in May 2021, the defendants—alongside one Mustapha Muhammed, currently at large—collected N3 million from them as payment for employment opportunities at the CBN.
The funds were paid into a Zenith Bank account belonging to the first defendant.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects demanded an additional N300,000 each from the complainants for purported medical screening. The money was transferred to an Access Bank account belonging to another accomplice, identified as Badraddin Mohammed.
Following investigations, the ICPC arraigned the defendants before Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court No. 55 in Asokoro on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Penal Code.
During the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, informed the court that the defendants had forged employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.
However, under a plea bargain agreement in line with Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the defendants pleaded guilty to a reduced one-count charge of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Justice Bassi subsequently sentenced the two officials to pay a fine of N100,000 each after they refunded the entire N4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating corruption within public institutions, warning against fraudulent employment schemes that exploit job seekers.
“The ICPC remains resolute in its mandate to rid public institutions of corrupt elements and ensure that Nigerians are protected from deceitful employment racketeering,” the statement read
