The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two National Assembly staff, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for their involvement in a ₦4.8 million employment scam.
According to a statement by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the case stemmed from a petition numbered ICPC/P/NC/1056/2022, in which victims accused the duo of collecting millions under false pretences of securing jobs.
Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Asokoro, Abuja, found the two guilty of defrauding Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar by promising them employment at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Investigations revealed that Mohammed introduced himself as a National Assembly staff with links at the CBN and FIRS and demanded ₦4 million each from the victims, assuring them of job placements by April 27, 2021.
The victims deposited ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to one of the accused and later paid an additional ₦300,000 each for fake medical screening through another Access Bank account.
After a thorough investigation, the ICPC arraigned the suspects on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and the Penal Code.
Prosecution counsel Fatima Abdullahi Bardi told the court that the defendants forged CBN and FIRS employment letters to deceive their victims.
However, under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which provides for plea bargaining, both men pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
As part of the plea agreement, the defendants refunded the entire ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account and were each fined ₦100,000.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency in public service and warned Nigerians to be cautious of fraudulent job offers, urging verification through proper channels.
Meanwhile, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows, and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa” at the Realnews 13th Anniversary Lecture in Lagos on November 19, 2025.
