The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of two National Assembly officials, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Goni, for their involvement in a massive N4.8 million job racketeering scheme.
The conviction was secured at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, where Justice B.M. Bassi found the duo guilty of defrauding unsuspecting citizens under the guise of offering federal employment.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the case was initiated following a petition filed by the victims, identified as Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar.
How the Scam Unfolded
The petition revealed a detailed conspiracy in which the defendants, alongside an accomplice who remains at large, collected N4.8 million from the victims to facilitate fake job placements.
Investigations by the anti-graft agency found that Mustapha Mohammed leveraged his position as a National Assembly staff member, claiming to have influential connections at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
He allegedly demanded N4 million from each complainant, assuring them that their official appointment letters would be issued by April 27, 2021.
The victims were initially directed to deposit N3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to one of the defendants. They were later instructed to pay an additional N300,000 each for a “purported medical screening,” which was paid into a separate Access Bank account.
Plea Bargain and Refund
The ICPC initially arraigned Mohammed and Goni on five counts, including conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretense, which violate the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and the Penal Code.
The prosecution counsel, Fatima Bardi, also presented evidence that the officials had forged employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive the complainants.
However, the defendants ultimately opted for a plea bargain, as allowed under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. They pleaded guilty to an amended single count of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
As part of the plea agreement, the officials were mandated to fully refund the N4.8 million stolen money to the ICPC Recovery Account. Justice Bassi also ordered that each defendant pay a N100,000 fine.
