ICPC arraigns fire service official over ‘employment fraud’

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says a federal fire service official has been arraigned for allegedly defrauding a job seeker.

In a statement on Wednesday, Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson, said the suspect, Augustine Abah, defrauded the victim to the tune of N600,000.

Ogugua said the suspect, a deputy superintendent of the Federal Fire Service, was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on fraud and employment racketeering.

The offence was said to contravene section  8(i)(a) and punishable under section 8(i)(b)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences act, 2000, and contrary to section 320(b) and punishable under section 322 of the penal code act.

“ICPC in a charge No: CR/283/2023, brought before honourable justice F.A. Aliyu of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court 57, sitting in Apo, Abuja, accused the defendant of defrauding an unsuspecting job seeker to the tune of N600,000,” the statement reads.

“In a two-count charge, the commission through its counsel, Mr Mashkur Salisu, told the court that the accused person fraudulently induced his victim into parting with the said sum of money in the guise of securing employment for the victim in the Federal Fire Service.

“When the accused person was admitted to take his plea, he entered a not guilty plea.

“The defence counsel, Mr G.E. Ejekela, via a motion on notice thereafter moved a bail application on behalf of his client.

“In the application which was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit, the defence lawyer sought the relief of the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal of conditions, stating that the accused person was willing to attend his trial.

“Although the bail application was not opposed by ICPC counsel, he, however, urged the court to impose conditions that will compel the defendant to attend his trial.”

F.A Aliyu, the presiding judge, after hearing both counsels, admitted the suspect to bail of N1 million and surety of like sum.

Aliyu said the surety must be a civil servant in grade level 12 and above and must present appointment and promotion letters to the court for verification.

The case was adjourned to the 13th of July 2023 for a hearing.