Laraba MUREY
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned Mrs. Aishatu Abdullahi, Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission, and Mrs. Ghaji Rahila, an Assistant Chief Accountant, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office.
The duo were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count charge.
ICPC accused the officials of conspiring to allow Rahila participate in the commission’s senior promotion exercise and secure a promotion to Chief Accountant (Level 14) while simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.
Rahila was also alleged to have forged an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for leave of absence from the National Boundary Commission.
One of the charges reads: “That you Ghaji Rahila (F) and Aishatu Abdullahi (F) sometime in 2021 or thereabout in Abuja did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conferring unfair advantag and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
ICPC’s counsel, Fatimah Abdullahi Bardi, requested a date for trial. Meanwhile, the defense counsels, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, applied for bail.
Justice Halilu granted bail under strict conditions. The defendants must provide two sureties each, who must be directors in federal parastatals residing in Abuja, with evidence of employment and promotion.
“The directors must sign an undertaking to produce the defendants throughout the trial or face imprisonment,” the judge ruled. He added that the defendants must submit their travel documents to the court registrar.
The judge warned that failure to meet the conditions would result in the defendants being remanded in Suleja Prison until the next hearing on March 17, 2025.
Speaking after the hearing, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to tackling corruption in public service.
“This case demonstrates our resolve to ensure accountability, especially among high-ranking officials,” he said.
