ICPC secures conviction of NSCDC officer for forgery, employment fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully secured the conviction of Mr. Solomon Ogodo, a Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for his involvement in forgery, employment racketeering, and fraud.

In December 2022, the ICPC arraigned Mr. Ogodo under charge number CR/503/2022 before Honourable Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of N12,200,000.

In a five-count charge, the Commission detailed how Mr. Ogodo deceived members of the public on multiple occasions, convincing them to part with various sums of money under the pretense of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS).

During the trial, ICPC Prosecutor Mr. Hamza Sani presented evidence showing that Mr. Ogodo forged provisional appointment offers for several applicants seeking positions in the Nigeria Correctional Services.

His actions are in violation of Section 13 and are punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, as well as Section 363, which is punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act.

Additionally, his actions contravened Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006, making them subject to punishment under that law.

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Shortly before the jail sentence was passed on Monday, Counsel to Mr. Ogodo, Mr. A. A Nwoye who held brief for Mr. Osita O. Eze urged the court to convert the jail term to community service for the convict.

The prosecution counsel on his part moved that the court should take cognizance of section 319 (1) a of the Administration of Criminal Justice ACT (ACJA) 2015 to mandate the convict to pay compensation of all the sum collected to the victims of his action.

Justice M.S. Idris in his judgement sentenced Mr. Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on count 1 to 3 (without option of fine) and two-months’ imprisonment or option of fine of five thousand naira on count 4. The convict equally bagged two months imprisonment on count 5 of the charge without option of fine.

The court also agreed with the submission of the prosecution brought under section 319 (1) of ACJA by ordering the convict to restitute all he received from his victims in the course of his illegal action.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE