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The federal capital territory (FCT) high court has sentenced Solomon Ogodo, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to seven years in prison over an employment scam.
Ogodo was accused of defrauding unsuspecting job seekers to the tune of N12.2 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned the NSCDC official on a five-count charge bordering on forgery, employment racketeering and fraud.
The commission told the court that Ogodo deceived people into parting with different sums of money in the guise of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS).
In a statement published on its website, the commission said the offence contravened sections 13 and 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Act.
THE JUDGMENT
At the hearing on Monday, A. A Nwoye, counsel to the defendant, begged the court to convert the jail term to community service.
Responding, the prosecution counsel asked the court to take note of section 319 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The counsel said the provision mandates the defendant to pay compensation for all the money collected from the victims.
In his ruling, M.S. Idris, the trial judge, sentenced Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on count 1 to 3, without option of fine.
The judge also sentenced the defendant to two months imprisonment or option of fine of N5,000 on count 4.
Ogodo also bagged two months imprisonment on count 5 of the charge without option of fine.
The judge ordered the defendant to refund the money collected from his victims.
