By Temitope Abe

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it has secured the conviction of two staff members of the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for defrauding two victims of ₦4.8 million in a fake job scam involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

A statement by the Commission on X noted that their conviction followed a petition filed by the victims, Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar.

Yakub and Abubakar had alleged that the convicts, alongside one Mustapha Mohammed (now at large), promised to secure employment slots at the CBN for ₦4 million each. The complainants paid an initial sum of ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to the first defendant.

Further investigations revealed that the duo also demanded an additional ₦300,000 from each applicant for an alleged medical screening, which was transferred to an Access Bank account. 

Following investigations, the defendants were arraigned before Justice B.M. Bassi of the FCT High Court in Asokoro on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence.

Prosecuting Counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, told the court that the defendants forged letters of employment purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.

The offences contravened sections 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other 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 under Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Justice Bassi consequently sentenced them to pay a fine of ₦100,000 each after they refunded the full sum of ₦4.8 million to the ICPC recovery account.

Source; Channels News