Two Federal Employees Remanded for N12m Job Fraud

An FCT High Court in Apo has ordered the remand of Ndubuisi Chineme from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Godwin Takat from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses and employment racketeering.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) brought the case before Justice C.O. Oba, accusing the defendants of defrauding job seekers of over N12 million.

In the 9-count charge, the ICPC alleged that the defendants jointly obtained the said amount from their victims by false pretense. According to ICPC Counsel Mr. Nura Saidu, their actions violated Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006, Section 18(d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000, and Section 363 of the Penal Code Act, 1990.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following their pleas, the presiding judge asked if the ICPC was ready to proceed with the trial. The prosecution requested an adjournment to prepare for the hearing, which the defense did not oppose.

Defense counsels Mr. E.E. Ogar and I.O. Nweze filed separate bail applications, requesting lenient terms. Mr. Saidu did not object to the bail applications.

Justice Oba granted bail at N2 million each, with two sureties for each defendant. The sureties must each have N20 million in their accounts and own two properties in the FCT, to be verified by the court. The defendants are to be remanded in Suleja and Kuje Correctional Centers pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions. The case was adjourned to January 13, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.