Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mustapha Mohammed and Tiljani Adam Goni, staff of the National Assembly, for their involvement in a N4.8 million job scam.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission revealed that the duo defrauded Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar by promising them employment at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The case originated from a petition filed in 2022, which alleged that Mohammed and Goni collected a total of N4.8 million from the complainants under the guise of facilitating job offers.
Investigations showed that the defendants received various payments through bank transfers, including N3 million and N300,000 purportedly for medical screening.
The accused were arraigned before Judge B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Asokoro on a five-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretences.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel Fatima Bardi stated that the defendants colluded to forge letters of employment allegedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to extort money from the victims.
Following a plea bargain under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Mohammed and Goni admitted guilt to a lesser charge and refunded the N4.8 million to the ICPC recovery account.
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 each fined N100,000 after full restitution.
