ICPC Secures Conviction Of Two National Assembly Staff Over N4.8m Job Scam

Abuja, Nigeria– 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 their involvement in a N4.8 million job scam.

The duo were found guilty of defrauding two job seekers, Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar, under the false pretense of securing employment for them at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

According to the ICPC, the case originated from a petition filed by the victims, who alleged that one Mustapha Muhammed, currently at large, connived with the defendants to demand large sums of money in exchange for employment offers.

The petitioners had transferred N3 million to a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mohammed and later paid an additional N300,000 each to an Access Bank account for a purported medical screening.

Following investigations, the ICPC arraigned the defendants before Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Asokoro, on a five-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud, forgery, and conspiracy.

Prosecuting counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, told the court that the defendants conspired to forge employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.

The offences contravened sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, and sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.

However, in line with Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, both defendants entered a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Justice Bassi convicted and sentenced them to pay a fine of N100,000 each after they fully refunded the N4.8 million to the ICPC recovery account.