Former NSCDC Commandant Jailed Over Employment Scam

"The victims had reported the matter to the ICPC after the convict failed to procure the said job and refused to refund their money." ICPC.

A former Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Christopher Oluchukwu has been sentenced to give (5) months imprisonment, without an option of fine, by a Katsina State High Court.

The arraignment of the former NSCDC Commandant by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC followed a petition based on an employment scam.

The ICPC, according to a statement issued and signed by the Acting Director, ICPC, Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare on Thursday, secured the conviction of Mr. Christopher Oluchukwu, a former Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for his involvement in an employment scam.

In the case filed by the ICPC at the Katsina State High Court 3, the convict was accused of receiving the sum of N200,000 N300,000 and N400,000 respectively from three individuals under the pretext of securing jobs for their children with the NSCDC.

The statement reveals that said the victims had reported the matter to the ICPC after the convict failed to procure the said job and refused to refund their money.

"During the course of the trial, counsel for the ICPC, Ibrahim Garba, had in a 9-counts charge told the court how the action of the convict negated sections 8, 10 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000." The statement read.

One of the counts read, ”That you Christopher Oluchukwu Ugwubujo on or about 25th and 28th day of November 2014 within the jurisdiction of this court while being a public officer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) conferred a corrupt advantage upon yourself by obtaining a total sum of four hundred thousand naira (N400,000. 00) from one…... (names not disclosed) for job placement for her daughter into the NSCDC and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”

In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Abbas Bawale found Oluchukwu guilty on all nine counts and sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Similarly, the trial judge pronounced that the sentences were to run concurrently.

He also held that even though the defendant was at large (he jumped bail), his sureties should be arrested and kept in custody for further investigation.