The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has swooped down on two officials from the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Goni, sealing their fate in a scandalous job scam that swindled a staggering N4.8 million! 

These two defendants stand guilty of defrauding innocent victims, who were lured with promises of jobs at the prestigious Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The sordid saga began when victims Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar bravely came forward, exposing the fraud that unfurled right before their eyes. As it turns out, Mustapha Mohammed, a self-proclaimed National Assembly insider, was the mastermind behind this heinous act, demanding a whopping N4 million from each victim. He had the audacity to claim that their appointment letters were just around the corner, set to arrive by April 27, 2021!

In an alarming twist, the victims, duped by these smooth talkers, transferred N3 million into a Zenith Bank account tied to one of the defendants. But it didn’t stop there! They were further instructed to cough up an additional N300,000 each for a supposed medical screening, funneled into another Access Bank account.

After an intense investigation, the ICPC was forced to take action, bringing the culprits to court on five counts including conspiracy and forgery. The stakes were high as these defendants were accused of violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006, not to mention the Penal Code!

Evidence presented by the prosecution, led by Fatima Bardi, revealed that these officials had even gone so far as to forge employment letters, a shocking tactic designed to trick their victims into believing they were on the verge of legitimate employment.

In a dramatic turn of events, the defendants chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge of making false statements, thanks to a convenient plea bargain. As a result, they were ordered to refund the full N4.8 million back to the ICPC Recovery Account, alongside a meager fine of N100,000.

The ICPC has issued a stern warning to the public, urging vigilance against fraudulent job offers and encouraging individuals to verify claims through official channels. In a world where deception lurks at every corner, one can only hope that this scandal serves as a wake-up call for all!