Court remands NSCDC officer in prison over ’employment scam’

A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Tosin Olagunju, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Suleja prison pending the hearing of her bail application scheduled for October 9.

Olagunju was arraigned on Wednesday before Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, on a four-count charge for allegedly obtaining N12.4 million from job seekers under false pretence to secure employment for them in the NSCDC.

The offence is punishable under section 1(1)(c) of the Advance Free Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

She pleaded not guilty when the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/183/2024, filed by the inspector-general of police (IGP), was read to her.

After the defendant’s plea, Princewill Eke, prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for the trial to commence.

M. A. Oloniruka, the defence lawyer, said he just filed a bail application before the court commenced sitting.

Oloniruka sought to move the bail application orally after being told that the written application was not before the court.

However, the judge declined to take an oral application, noting that all applications must be formal and in writing for record purposes.

“This matter is adjourned till October 9 for trial. The defendant should be remanded in the Suleja correctional centre,” Nyako said.