NSCDC officer jailed seven years for certificate forgery

A federal capital Territory (FCT) high court in Gudu has sentenced Hassan Abdullahi, a superintendent with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to seven years in prison for certificate forgery and corrupt self-enrichment.

E. Okpe, the presiding judge, found Abdullahi guilty on a two-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The prosecution led by Hamza Sani told the court that Abdullahi submitted a forged Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) purportedly issued by Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, Kebbi state, to the NSCDC in December 2010 to aid his career progression.

According to the commission, the offence violates section 366 and is punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code. 

The court sentenced him to two years in prison or a fine of N2 million on the first count.

On the second count, the court held that between December 2011 and October 2022, the NSCDC officer used the forged certificate to obtain salaries and benefits applicable to the rank of senior inspector.

The act, the court ruled, amounts to conferring corrupt advantage on himself in violation of section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

Beyond the custodial sentence, the court also invoked section 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to order Abdullahi to refund all salaries, emoluments and benefits he earned from the period he fraudulently upgraded his rank until he stopped receiving earnings from the federal government.

In a statement on Monday, Okor Odey, ICPC spokesperson, described the judgment as a boost to anti-corruption enforcement, particularly in the public sector.

“The commission welcomes this judgment as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s support in the fight against corruption, particularly in the public service, where acts such as certificate forgery and corrupt self-enrichment undermine professionalism, integrity, and public trust,” the statement read.

“ICPC remains committed to the diligent investigation and prosecution of all forms of corruption, and urges public institutions to strengthen their internal verification processes to prevent such abuses.”