ICPC arraigns two ministry staff over employment racketeering, fraud
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Ndubuisi Joy Cheneme, a staff member of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, and Mr. Godwin Sabo Takat of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, on charges of obtaining by false pretence and employment racketeering.
The defendants were brought before Honourable Justice C.O. Oba of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 31, sitting in Apo, Abuja, under charge No. CR/243/2024.
They stand accused of defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of over Twelve Million Naira (N12,000,000).
The ICPC, in a 9-count charge, alleged that the defendants jointly obtained the money from their victims under false pretences.
The actions of Cheneme and Takat, according to ICPC Counsel Mr. Nura Saidu, violated section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, section 18(d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and section 363 of the Penal Code Act, 1990.
One of the counts specified, “that you, Godwin Sabo Takat (M), between January and June 2018 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, whilst being a staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, with intent to defraud, induced by false pretense Ndubuisi Joy Chineme to confer a benefit on you by paying the sum of N4,530,000.00 (Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) into your First Bank account for securing employment for unsuspecting job seekers in the Federal Civil Service, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 1(2) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all nine counts read to them.
