The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has secured the conviction of Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, staff of the national assembly, over a N4.8 million job scam.
According to the commission, Mohammed and Goni defrauded Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar by promising to secure them employment at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The matter came up from a petition filed in 2022, alleging that the convicts collected N4.8 million from the complainants under the pretext of helping them obtain job offers.
Investigations revealed that the defendants received various sums through bank transfers, including N3 million and N300,000 for purported medical screening.
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They were arraigned before B.M. Bassi, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Asokoro, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence.
Fatima Bardi, prosecution counsel, told the court that the defendants conspired to forge letters of employment purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to extort money from the complainants.
Under a plea bargain in line with section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, the defendants pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and refunded the N4.8 million to the ICPC recovery account.
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On October 29, they were convicted on a separate one-count charge of making false statements contrary to section 25 of the ICPC Act 2000 and were fined N100,000 each after full restitution.
