NSCDC Officer Sentenced to 7 Years for N12 Million Employment Scam
Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has sentenced Solomon Ogodo, a Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to seven years in prison for forgery, employment racketeering, and defrauding job seekers of N12.2 million.
Ogodo was arraigned in December 2022 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a five-count charge under case number CR/503/2022. The charges detailed how he deceived members of the public by promising them employment in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) in exchange for money. The court heard that Ogodo forged provisional appointment letters to further his scheme.
The ICPC’s prosecutor, Hamza Sani, presented evidence showing that Ogodo’s actions violated multiple laws, including the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Penal Code Act, and the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006. These violations attracted severe punishments under the respective statutes.
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During the sentencing on Monday, Ogodo’s defense counsel, A.A. Nwoye, pleaded for leniency, requesting the court to substitute the prison term with community service. However, the prosecution urged the court to invoke Section 319(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to ensure the victims were compensated for their losses.
Justice Idris sentenced Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on counts 1 to 3, with no option of a fine. On count 4, the court imposed a two-month sentence with the option of a N5,000 fine, and on count 5, Ogodo received another two months without a fine option. Additionally, the court ordered him to fully restitute the N12.2 million he extorted from his victims.
