ICPC Secures Conviction of Two National Assembly Staff in N4.8 Million Job Scam

ICPC Secures Conviction of Two National Assembly Staff in N4.8 Million Job Scam

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully secured the conviction of two National Assembly staff for defrauding job seekers of N4.8 million in a fraudulent employment scheme.

Mustapha Mohammed, currently at large, and Tijjani Adam Goni were found guilty of swindling Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar, who were promised jobs at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), respectively.

According to the ICPC, the fraud began on May 27, 2021, when Mohammed, claiming to be a friend of a National Assembly staff, promised to secure two CBN job slots for N4 million each. He demanded N3 million from the petitioners, which was deposited into his Zenith Bank account. Additionally, each applicant paid N300,000 for a purported medical screening into an Access Bank account belonging to Badraddin Mohammed.

Prosecuting counsel Fatima Abdullahi Bardi told the court that the defendants faced a five-count charge, including conspiracy to forge employment letters from both CBN and FIRS, in violation of sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Penal Codes.

The defendants later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge under Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and were ordered to refund the total sum of N4.8 million into the ICPC Recovery Account. Each was also fined N100,000.

“Pursuant to Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the defendants pleaded guilty and made full restitution,” the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, stated.

The ICPC’s successful prosecution underscores its commitment to curbing corruption and fraudulent practices in Nigeria’s public sector.