ICPC Begins Trial Of Two Ministries’ Staff Over ₦12 Million Job Racketeering

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced the trial of two civil servants, Mrs. Joy Ndubuisi Chineme of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Mr. Godwin Tabo Sakat of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, for their alleged involvement in a ₦12 million job racketeering scheme.

The trial is being held before Justice C.O. Oba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

In a statement signed by Demola Bakare, fsi, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and Spokesperson for the Commission, it was revealed that the defendants were first arraigned in July 2024 on a nine-count charge.

During the trial’s commencement, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Suleiman Abdulkareem, presented Mrs. Adah Ojoma, an Assistant Director at ICPC, as the first prosecution witness.

Mrs. Ojoma testified that the investigation began after the Commission received a petition against the first defendant, Mrs. Chineme, on March 4, 2022.

According to Mrs. Ojoma, the investigation uncovered various transactions in the first defendant’s bank accounts, totaling over ₦12 million. This included transfers of ₦3.9 million in 2018, ₦5 million in 2019, and ₦2.5 million in 2021 into her Zenith Bank account.

Additionally, ₦4.3 million was transferred to the second defendant, Mr. Sakat. A fake letter of employment was also discovered during the investigation.

The first defendant, who voluntarily made a statement at the Commission, later claimed through her counsel, E.E. Oga, that her statement was obtained under duress. The defense requested a trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of the statement.

Mrs. Ojoma, however, testified during the trial within a trial that legal procedures were explained to the defendant and that she called her husband and sister to assist with writing the statement due to her difficulty in writing.

The case was adjourned to March 25, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.