The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two staff members of the National Assembly, Mustapha Mohammed and Tijjani Adam Goni, for their involvement in a job scam worth ₦4.8 million.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by ICPC spokeswoman Demola Bakare, the case stemmed from the victims’ petition, ICPC/P/NC/1056/2022. The suit said that the defendants, together with another suspect still at large, gathered ₦4.8 million to arrange false job offers.
Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 55, sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, convicted the duo of defrauding two victims—Saifudeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar—on the pretext of securing employment for them at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
“Investigations revealed that Mustapha Mohammed had introduced himself as a National Assembly staff member with close connections at the CBN and FIRS. He allegedly demanded ₦4 million each from the complainants, assuring them that their appointment letters would be released by April 27, 2021.
“The petitioners later deposited ₦3 million into a Zenith Bank account belonging to one of the defendants and were subsequently asked to pay an additional ₦300,000 each for purported medical screening, which was paid into another Access Bank account.
“Following a detailed investigation, the ICPC arraigned the suspects on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretense, contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and the Penal Code.
“Prosecution counsel, Fatima Abdullahi Bardi, told the court that the defendants forged employment letters purportedly issued by the CBN and FIRS to deceive their victims.”
The statement further said, “However, under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows plea bargaining, the defendants pleaded guilty to an amended one-count charge of making false statements, contrary to Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
“As part of the plea agreement, they refunded the entire ₦4.8 million to the ICPC Recovery Account and were each fined ₦100,000.”
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to maintaining accountability and integrity in public service, cautioning Nigerians to be aware of fake employment offers and to always check claims through proper means.
In a related development, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the ICPC, will speak on cybersecurity and illicit financial flows in Nigeria at the Realnews 13th Anniversary Lecture in Lagos.
Maureen Chigbo, publisher and editor-in-chief of Realnews, said that the lecture titled “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows, and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa” will take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
