ICPC Secures Conviction as Senior NSCDC Officer Gets 12-Month Jail Term With Option of Fine
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Kurudu, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced an NSCDC Deputy Commandant, Idris Barde, over a ₦4.55 million recruitment scam.
The conviction followed a prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which accused the senior officer of fraudulently obtaining money from a job seeker under the guise of securing employment into the NSCDC.
According to the ICPC, Barde collected the sum of ₦4.55 million from one Igbo Christian Okechukwu in 2017, promising to secure employment for seven individuals in the paramilitary agency. However, the promised jobs never materialised.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ngozika Nwabulu found the defendant guilty after considering the documentary evidence and testimonies presented by the prosecution.
The court subsequently sentenced Barde to 12 months imprisonment with an option of a ₦4 million fine.
Reacting to the judgment, the ICPC described the conviction as a strong warning against job racketeering and abuse of public office, reiterating its commitment to prosecuting corrupt practices and protecting Nigerians from employment scams.
The anti-corruption agency urged members of the public to avoid making payments to individuals who promise employment opportunities in government agencies, stressing that recruitment into public institutions follows due process and should never involve financial inducement.
The case adds to the growing list of convictions secured by the ICPC in its ongoing fight against corruption and fraudulent recruitment schemes across Nigeria.
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