The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sani Lawal, for defrauding job seekers under the guise of securing employment in the corps.
Lawal was convicted by Justice A.A. Bawale of the Katsina State High Court No. 3 after the court adopted a plea bargain agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence. He was subsequently sentenced to pay a fine of N100,000.
The ICPC had prosecuted Lawal over allegations that he fraudulently obtained N920,000 from two job seekers in Katsina State in 2024 after falsely promising to secure employment for them in the NSCDC.
During the proceedings, counsel to the commission, Haruna Hedima, told the court that the defendant collected the money despite having no authority to offer employment in the corps.
Lawal was initially arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on employment fraud, contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
However, following a plea bargain agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence, the court adopted the agreement as its judgment, convicted him on two counts and sentenced him to pay a fine of N100,000.
Reacting to the development on Thursday, the ICPC said the conviction demonstrated its commitment to tackling corruption, particularly fraudulent recruitment schemes that exploit unsuspecting job seekers.
The commission warned Nigerians against paying money to individuals who claim they can secure government employment, stressing that recruitment into the public service follows established procedures and not unofficial payments.
It urged members of the public to report suspected cases of employment fraud through its designated reporting channels.