THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Umar Abubakar for offences bordering on alleged forgery and employment scam.
A statement released by ICPC spokesperson Azuka Ogugua on Wednesday, June 7, said the suspect was docked before an Adamawa State High Court presided by Hafsat Abdulrahman.
“The Commission in Charge No: HC/ADSY/127C/2022, accused the defendant of obtaining by false pretense the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) from an unsuspecting job seeker with the promise that he was going to help his victim secure employment with ICPC.
“In a 3-count charge, ICPC informed the Court of how the accused person fraudulently faked, signed and issued a letter of temporary appointment from the anti-graft Commission to his victim when he knew such a letter did not emanate from the Commission,” the statement explained.
The suspect demanded the sum of N1 million gratification to secure the purported employment for the victim.
According to the ICPC, the offence contravened Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and is punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and equally contrary to Section 349, and punishable under Section 351, of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.
The accused pleaded not guilty when all the charges were read to him.
Abubakar’s counsel meanwhile applied for bail which was not opposed to by counsel to ICPC, Anas Kolo.
The ICPC however appealed to the court to impose stringent measures that would compel the defendant to attend his trial.
The judge, Abdulrahman, in her ruling, granted Abubakar bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was adjourned to June 15, 2023 for commencement of trial
In April 2023, The ICIR also reported that ICPC arraigned the General Manager, AGB Limited, Friday Adodo and a businessman and owner of FMateck Limited, Abdulrasheed Yusuf, for forgery.
The two defendants were arraigned on charges bordering on forging contract documents to bid for a contract at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) Makurdi, Benue State, contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 58(1) of the Procurement Act, 2007.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M