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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has secured the conviction of two National Assembly employees, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for defrauding job seekers of ₦4.8 million.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, the case followed a petition numbered ICPC/P/NC/1056/2022 from the victims. The petition detailed how the duo, alongside another suspect currently on the run, collected ₦4.8 million under the guise of offering employment.
Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 55, sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, convicted the pair for obtaining money by false pretence from two victims — Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar — after promising them jobs at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Investigations revealed that Mustapha Mohammed had introduced himself as a National Assembly staff member with alleged strong connections in the CBN and FIRS. He demanded ₦4 million each from the complainants, assuring them that their appointment letters would be released by April 27, 2021.
The victims reportedly deposited ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account owned by one of the defendants and later paid another ₦300,000 each for supposed medical screening into an Access Bank account.
After investigations, the ICPC arraigned the suspects on a five-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence, offences punishable under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and the Penal Code.
Prosecution counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, informed the court that the defendants had forged employment letters purportedly from the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.
However, under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which provides for plea bargaining, the duo pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
As part of the plea deal, they refunded the entire ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account and were each fined ₦100,000.
The ICPC reaffirmed its dedication to promoting integrity and accountability in public service, cautioning Nigerians against falling for fake job offers and urging them to always verify such claims through proper channels.
In a related event, ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), will deliver a keynote address on cybersecurity and illicit financial flows at the Realnews 13th Anniversary Lecture in Lagos.
According to Maureen Chigbo, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Realnews, the lecture titled “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa” will take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
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