THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Mr Solomon Ogodo, a Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for his involvement in forgery, employment racketeering and fraud.
The ICPC had in December 2022 arraigned Mr Ogodo in charge no: CR/503/2022 before Honourable Justice M.S. Idris of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Jabi, Abuja, for defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of Twelve Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N12,200,000).
In the 5-count charge, the Commission informed the court how the convict, on different occasions, hoodwinked some members of the public into parting with different sums of money in the guise of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS).
ICPC’s Prosecutor in the case, Mr Hamza Sani, had, in the course of the trial, led evidence before the court on how Mr Ogodo forged offers of provisional appointments for some applicants into the Nigeria Correctional Services.
His actions are contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act. The actions also violate and are punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act of 2006.
Shortly before the jail sentence was passed on Monday, counsel to Mr Ogodo, Mr A. A Nwoye, who held brief for Mr Osita O. Eze, urged the court to convert the jail term to community service for the convict.
The prosecution counsel, on his part, moved that the court should take cognizance of Section 319 (1) a of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to mandate the convict to pay compensation of all the sum collected to the victims of his action.
Justice M.S. Idris, in his judgment, sentenced Mr Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on counts 1 to 3 (without the option of a fine) and two months imprisonment or the option of a fine of five thousand nairas on counts 4. The convict equally bagged two months imprisonment on count 5 of the charge without option of fine.
The court also agreed with the submission of the prosecution brought under Section 319 (1) of ACJA by ordering the convict to restitute all he received from his victims in the course of his illegal action.
Eighteen-Eleven Media