Aviation Ministry Worker Convicted Over Employment Fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a conviction in a case involving a staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Elvis Simon Okerenyi, who was facing charges bordering on forgery and giving “fake employment” to a job-seeker.

ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, said in a statement that investigations revealed that Okerenyi had allegedly defrauded a job seeker, Titus Tavershima, of the sum of N1,000,000.00  to secure employment in the Federal Civil Service.

“This act is contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, 2006,” the ICPC said.

However, the defendant entered into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution and the initial seven-count charge was amended to one count charge to which the defendant pleaded guilty.

The ICPC revealed that the defendant pleaded guilty upon his arraignment based on a plea bargain agreement before Justice S. C. Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was convicted pursuant to section 270(10) ACJA on the only charge in the amended charge.

The court further sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment or an option of a fine of N200,000.00 and ordered him to restitute the sum of N350,000.00 to Titus Tavershima, the victim of his crime.