The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two staff members of the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for defrauding two job seekers of N4.8 million in a fake employment scam involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
According to a statement posted by the Commission on X, the conviction followed a petition by the victims, Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar, who reported that the convicts, along with another suspect still at large, promised to secure CBN employment slots for ₦4 million each.
The victims reportedly paid N3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to the first defendant and were later asked to pay an additional N300,000 each for an alleged medical screening, which they transferred to an Access Bank account.
ICPC investigations revealed that the defendants forged employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.
They were subsequently arraigned before Justice B.M. Bassi of the FCT High Court in Asokoro on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence — offences contrary to sections 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code.
However, the Commission said both defendants opted for a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of making false statements under Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Justice Bassi sentenced them to pay a fine of N100,000 each after they refunded the full N4.8 million to the ICPC recovery account.
