A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja, has sentenced an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Solomon Ogodo, to seven years imprisonment for forgery, employment fraud, and racketeering.
Justice M.S. Idris delivered the judgement following a five-count charge filed against Mr Ogodo by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The court heard that Mr Ogodo defrauded job seekers of ₦12,200,000 under the pretext of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services. According to ICPC prosecutor Hamza Sani, the convict forged provisional appointment letters and collected money from unsuspecting victims.
Mr Ogodo’s actions were found to have violated sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Penal Code Act, and the Advanced Fee Fraud Act of 2006.
Justice Idris sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on the first three counts without an option of fine. For the fourth count, he received two months imprisonment or an option of a ₦5,000 fine, and for the fifth count, two months imprisonment without a fine.
The court also ordered Mr Ogodo to refund all the money he fraudulently collected, in line with Section 319 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Before sentencing, defence counsel A.A. Nwoye pleaded for the prison term to be converted to community service. However, the prosecution opposed the plea, urging the court to focus on compensating the victims.
Justice Idris, in his ruling, stressed the seriousness of the offences. “The convict must face the consequences of his actions to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said, adding that Mr Ogodo’s conduct undermined public trust in the NSCDC.
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