KEY POINTS
- ICPC convicted two National Assembly officials for a ₦4.8m scam.
- Victims were promised fake jobs at CBN and FIRS.
- Both men refunded the full amount and paid fines.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has secured the conviction of two National Assembly staff members, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Goni, for their involvement in a ₦4.8 million employment scam.
Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, found them guilty of collecting money under false pretences from victims seeking jobs at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Victims lost millions in fake job offers
According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the case stemmed from a petition filed by victims Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar. Investigations revealed that Mohammed introduced himself as a National Assembly staffer with connections at the CBN and FIRS, demanding ₦4 million each to secure appointments.
The victims paid ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account and later transferred another ₦300,000 each for a fabricated medical screening, the ICPC said.
After the investigation, authorities arraigned both men on five counts, including conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence. They refunded the ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account and each paid a ₦100,000 fine as part of the deal.
Finally, the anti-graft agency reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity in public service and urged people to verify job offers through official channels to avoid scams.
