THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) has arraigned two staff members of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Works with charges related to receiving money under pretences and employment racketeering.
Read Also:
According to ICPC’s counsel, Nura Saidu, the defendants’ activities violated Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section 18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and Section 363 of the Penal Code Act, 1990.
One of the counts read, “That you Godwin Sabo Takat (M) between January and June 2018 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja whilst being a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, with intent to defraud, did induce by false pretence Ndubuisi Joy Chineme to confer a benefit on you by paying the sum of (N4,530,000.00k) Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira only in your First Bank account for securing employment for unsuspecting job seekers in the Federal Civil Service, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge, and their counsels, E.E. Ogar and I.O. Nweze, presented separate bail applications on their behalf.
The presiding judge granted the defendants N2 million each in bail with two sureties, each of whom must have N20 million in their accounts and two landed properties in the Federal Capital Territory.
The accused were remanded at the Suleja and Kuje Correctional Centres until the bail requirements were met.
Meanwhile, the case was adjourned until January 13, 2025, when the trial was scheduled to begin.
Multimedia journalist covering Entertainment and Foreign news