Two National Assembly Officials Jailed for ₦4.8 Million Job Scam

 

Two staff members of the National Assembly have been convicted for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of ₦4.8 million under the pretext of securing them employment at top government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) secured the conviction of Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, who were arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for offences bordering on fraud, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretences.

According to court documents and findings from the ICPC investigation, the case began after two victims, Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar, petitioned the commission in 2022. They alleged that the defendants collected money from them in exchange for employment slots purportedly available at the CBN and FIRS.

The investigation revealed that in May 2021, Mustapha Mohammed, posing as a well-connected official in the National Assembly, claimed he could secure employment opportunities for the victims at a fee of ₦4 million each. Acting on this promise, the victims transferred ₦3 million to Mohammed’s Zenith Bank account and an additional ₦600,000 to another Access Bank account, allegedly for medical screening and processing.

Further evidence showed that the convicts forged appointment letters dated June 2021, supposedly issued by the CBN and FIRS, to convince the victims that the jobs were genuine. The letters were later confirmed to be fake by the concerned institutions.

The duo was initially charged on five counts, including conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, and forgery, contrary to the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and the Penal Code.

However, both defendants entered a plea bargain under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. They admitted guilt to a reduced single count of making false statements to officers of the ICPC.

In consideration of their plea and restitution of the full ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account, the court convicted and sentenced them to pay a fine of ₦100,000 each in lieu of imprisonment.

The ICPC, in a statement, commended the victims for coming forward and reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating corruption within public institutions. The commission warned Nigerians to be wary of individuals who claim to have connections in government agencies and request money in exchange for employment or contracts.

“The commission will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in employment racketeering and other forms of corruption, regardless of their position,” the ICPC spokesperson stated.