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, Sani Lawal, over a fraudulent recruitment scheme in which he obtained N920,000 from two job seekers.
Lawal was convicted by Justice A.A. Bawale of the Katsina State High Court No. 3 following a plea bargain agreement entered into by the prosecution and the defence.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the ICPC, the defendant was initially arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on employment fraud but was convicted on two counts in line with the terms of the plea bargain adopted by the court.
ICPC counsel, Haruna Hedima, told the court that Lawal, sometime in 2024, collected N920,000 from two complainants after falsely promising to secure employment for them in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The offences were said to contravene Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Act.
Justice Bawale adopted the plea bargain agreement as the judgment of the court, convicted the defendant and ordered him to pay a fine of N100,000.
The anti-graft agency said the conviction reflected its commitment to tackling corruption, particularly fraudulent recruitment schemes targeting unsuspecting Nigerians.
The commission also warned members of the public against paying money to individuals claiming they could secure jobs in government ministries, departments and agencies, stressing that recruitment into the public service follows established procedures and not unofficial payments.
ICPC urged Nigerians to report suspected cases of recruitment fraud through its official reporting channels, pledging to continue investigating and prosecuting those involved in corrupt practices.
