ICPC Arraigns Man for Forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mr. Ekoh Justin Okezie on multiple charges, including forgery and providing false information to an officer of the Commission.
Mr. Okezie appeared on Monday before Honorable Justice N.K. Nwosue-Iheme at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2. He faces a nine-count charge, including possession of a counterfeit “Offer of Temporary Appointment” letter and an unofficial document purporting to be an appointment letter to the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria.
He was also accused of unlawfully receiving multiple salary payments from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture by falsely representing himself as a legitimate staff member of the ministry.
One of the charges against him states: “That you, Ekoh Justin Okezie, sometime between January and December 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of ₦638,993.72 (Six Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Three Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo) as twelve (12) months’ salary, purportedly as a staff of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture”.
The charge sheet read that, “a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Mr. Okezie pleaded not guilty to all nine charges. His counsel, Mr. E.D. Imo, filed a bail application, which was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Henry Emore of the ICPC.
After listening to the argument of both counsels, the presiding judge Justice Nwosue-Iheme granted bail to the accused person under specific conditions including but not limited to requiring Mr. Okezie to present a credible surety with a permanent residence in Abuja and to post a bond of ₦5 million.
The Presiding Judge later adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
ICPC Secures 7-Year Jail Term for Civil Defence Officer Over N12.2 Million Employment Scam
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr. Solomon Ogodo, a Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for his involvement in forgery, employment racketeering and fraud.
The ICPC, had in December 2022 arraigned Mr. Ogodo in charge no: CR/503/2022 before Honourable Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Jabi, Abuja for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of Twelve Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N12,200,000).
In the 5-count charge, the Commission told the Court how the convict, on different occasions hoodwinked some members of the public into parting with different sums of money in the guise of securing employments for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS).
ICPC’s Prosecutor in the case, Mr. Hamza Sani had in the course of the trial led evidence before the court on how Mr. Ogodo, forged offers of provisional appointments for some applicants into the Nigeria Correctional Services.
His actions are contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act.
The actions also violated and are punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act of 2006.
Shortly before the jail sentence was passed on Monday, Counsel to Mr. Ogodo, Mr. A. A Nwoye who held brief for Mr. Osita O. Eze urged the court to convert the jail term to community service for the convict.
The prosecution counsel on his part moved that the court should take cognizance of section 319 (1) a of the Administration of Criminal Justice ACT (ACJA) 2015 to mandate the convict to pay compensation of all the sum collected to the victims of his action.
Justice M.S. Idris in his judgement sentenced Mr. Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on count 1 to 3 (without option of fine) and two-months’ imprisonment or option of fine of five thousand naira on count 4. The convict equally bagged two months imprisonment on count 5 of the charge without option of fine.
The court also agreed with the submission of the prosecution brought under section 319 (1) of ACJA by ordering the convict to restitute all he received from his victims in the course of his illegal action.
Source:icpc.gov.ng
