JUST IN; NSCDC Chief sentenced to seven years jail term over N12 million fraud
JUST IN; NSCDC Chief sentenced to seven years jail term for N12 million fraud
Solomon Ogodo, a Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in forgery, employment racketeering, and fraud.
Ogodo was sentenced by Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja.
The sentencing took place on Monday after Ogodo was found guilty of defrauding job seekers of N12.2 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Ogodo in December 2022 on charges related to defrauding unsuspecting individuals by promising them jobs in the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
Ogodo was charged with five counts, with the prosecution detailing how he deceived the public into paying various sums for false job promises. He was found to have forged provisional appointment letters for several applicants, furthering the scheme.
The court heard from ICPC prosecutor Hamza Sani, who argued that Ogodo’s actions violated multiple sections of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, the Penal Code Act, and the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.
Before the sentence was passed, A.A. Nwoye, representing Ogodo’s defense counsel, Osita O. Eze, pleaded with the court to convert the prison sentence into community service. However, the prosecution urged the court to follow Section 319 (1)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which mandates that Ogodo compensate the victims of his fraudulent activities.
Justice Idris sentenced Ogodo to seven years imprisonment for counts 1 to 3, with no option of a fine, and two months imprisonment or a N5,000 fine for count 4. He was also sentenced to two months for count 5, without the option of a fine. In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered Ogodo to fully restitute the money he obtained through his fraudulent actions, in line with the prosecution’s request.
