ICPC Presents First Witness as Two Officials Face Corruption Charges

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has formally launched the trial of two civil servants accused of participating in a N12 million job racketeering scheme. Mrs. Joy Ndubuisi Chineme, from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and Mr. Godwin Tabo Sakat, from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, were initially arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in July 2024 on nine criminal charges. The trial began under the supervision of Justice C.O. Oba on Monday.

ICPC Presents First Witness as Two Officials Face Corruption Charges

During the court session, the prosecution presented its first witness, Mrs. Adah Ojoma, an Assistant Director at the ICPC. Mrs. Ojoma revealed that an investigation was launched following a petition filed against Mrs. Chineme on March 4, 2022. The investigation uncovered a series of financial irregularities, including suspicious deposits in Chineme’s bank accounts. These transactions amounted to over N12 million, including N3.9 million in 2018, N5 million in 2019, and N2.5 million in 2021, with N4.3 million transferred to Mr. Sakat. A fraudulent employment letter linked to the case was also discovered.

Trial of Civil Servants Accused of Job Racketeering Adjourned to March

As the trial progressed, Mrs. Ojoma testified that Mrs. Chineme voluntarily provided a statement after being invited by the Commission. However, the defense attorney, E.E. Oga, contested the claim, alleging that the statement was made under duress. In response, the defense requested a trial within a trial to determine the circumstances surrounding the statement. ICPC’s counsel, Mr. Suleiman Abdulkareem, agreed to the request, noting that while the statement was not a confession, they would allow the court to assess its voluntariness.

Defendants Deny Coercion in N12 Million Job Fraud Scandal as Court Prepares for Next Phase

The court session concluded with a request from the defense to present additional witnesses. As a result, Justice Oba adjourned the case to March 25, 2025, when the proceedings will continue. The case has attracted significant attention, with both defendants maintaining their innocence as the trial enters its next stage. The court will further examine the legal validity of the contested statement and evaluate additional evidence presented by the defense.