Cynthia Ezegwu
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two staff members of the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for their involvement in a ₦4.8 million job scam.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare. According to the statement, the case stemmed from a petition numbered ICPC/P/NC/1056/2022 filed by the victims, detailing how the defendants, alongside another suspect still at large, collected ₦4.8 million under the pretext of securing employment for them.
Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 55, sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, found the duo guilty of defrauding two victims — Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar — after promising them job placements at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Investigations revealed that Mohammed introduced himself as a National Assembly employee with alleged connections at both agencies. He reportedly demanded ₦4 million each from the complainants, assuring them that their appointment letters would be released by April 27, 2021. The victims later paid ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to one of the defendants and an additional ₦300,000 each for supposed medical screening into another Access Bank account.
Following the investigation, the ICPC arraigned the suspects on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Penal Code.
Prosecution counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, told the court that the defendants forged employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.
However, under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows plea bargaining, the defendants 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.
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As part of the plea deal, the duo refunded the entire ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account and were each fined ₦100,000.
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity and accountability in public service while warning Nigerians to beware of fraudulent job offers and verify all employment claims through proper channels.
Meanwhile, the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa” at the Realnews 13th Anniversary Lecture in Lagos on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.