THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY High Court, Apo, Abuja, has commenced the trial of two ministry officials accused of ₦12 million job racketeering, a case that underscores Nigeria’s ongoing battle against systemic corruption.
The defendants, Mrs Joy Ndubuisi Chineme of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Mr Godwin Tabo Sakat of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, were arraigned on a nine-count charge by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
A statement obtained by The Explainer on Tuesday revealed that the trial began on Monday with the testimony of Mrs Adah Ojoma, an Assistant Director in the ICPC and the first prosecution witness. Mrs Ojoma testified that the investigation into the matter began after the Commission received a petition against Mrs Chineme on 4th March 2022.
Evidence of Fraudulent Transactions
Mrs Ojoma told the court that investigators unearthed over ₦12 million in suspicious transactions linked to the defendants.
“The team first discovered the sum of Three Hundred Thousand naira in her [Mrs Chineme’s] bank account and different other amounts totaling over ₦12 million,” she said.
She detailed that between 2018 and 2021, the first defendant transferred sums including ₦3.9 million, ₦5 million, and ₦2.5 million to her Zenith Bank account. Additionally, ₦4.3 million was transferred to the second defendant, Mr Sakat. The ICPC investigation also uncovered a fake letter of employment connected to the fraudulent activities.
Allegations of Coercion
The Explainer gathered that, while the ICPC presented evidence of the transactions and statements made by the first defendant, her counsel, E.E. Oga, argued that Mrs Chineme’s statements were made under duress. He requested a trial within a trial to ascertain the voluntariness of the statements.
During the trial within trial, Mrs Ojoma informed the court that Mrs Chineme had been invited to the ICPC office, where legal procedures were explained to her.
“She called her husband and sister at different times to assist in writing her statement, as she claimed she could not write properly,” Ojoma stated.
However, the defence counsel moved for an adjournment to bring forward a defence witness. Justice C.O. Oba subsequently adjourned the matter to 25th March 2025 for the continuation of the trial.
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However, The Explainer earlier reported that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) prosecuted Mr Taiwo Stephen Ayodeji over an alleged forgery and employment fraud.
It was gathered that the trial, which resumed on Tuesday, saw the ICPC presenting Mrs. Mayen Gajere, a retired director from the Office of the Federal Civil Service Commission, as Prosecution Witness 3.
Testifying before Justice A.Y. Shafa, Mrs. Gajere provided insights into federal recruitment processes and the workings of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
