The
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) has charged a Deputy Director with the Federal Character
Commission (FCC), Mr. Ahmad Balarabe to court for allegedly defrauding
unsuspecting job seekers of N8.8 million.The Commission, in a two-count
charge brought before Justice Bello Shinkafi, of the Zamfara State High
Court, Gusau, said that Mr. Balarabe fraudulently collected huge sums of
money from job seekers with a promise to employ them into the services
of the Federal University, Gusau and other federal government
agencies.ICPC informed the court that the accused, while acting as the
State Coordinator, FCC, in October, 2014, collected the N8.8 million
from several job seekers including N970, 000.00 from one Lawali Sule
Garba and his friends as financial commitment for processing their
employments.According to the Commission, his offence violates Section 1
(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004
and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.One of the counts
read, “That you, Ahmad Balarabe, in October 2014 or thereabouts at
Gusau, Zamfara State, whilst being the State Coordinator, Federal
Character Commission, with the intent to defraud, did obtain by false
pretense, the sum of N7, 700, 000.00 from unsuspecting job seekers under
the guise of securing employment for them into the Federal University,
Gusau, Zamfara State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 1 (1)(a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004.The Deputy Director who now
heads Public Enlightenment, Media and Mobilisation Department of FCC,
pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him as his counsel, A.
Abubakar, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.Counsel to
ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, while agreeing that the accused be released on
bail, urged the court to be mindful of the penalties for the offence
which is a maximum of twenty years imprisonment.He therefore prayed the
court to ensure that the accused provided reasonable surety in line with
the provisions of the law before he would be admitted to bail.The trial
Judge, while ruling on the bail application, admitted the accused to
bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum. The
sureties must have landed property in Gusau, valued at N30 million each.
The bail conditions also required the accused to submit his
international passport with the court.Justice Bello ruled that Balarabe
should be remanded in the Gusau Central Prison, pending the fulfillment
of his bail conditions.Photo: ICPC docks Deputy Director for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of N8.8 million
The
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC) has charged a Deputy Director with the Federal Character
Commission (FCC), Mr. Ahmad Balarabe to court for allegedly defrauding
unsuspecting job seekers of N8.8 million.The Commission, in a two-count
charge brought before Justice Bello Shinkafi, of the Zamfara State High
Court, Gusau, said that Mr. Balarabe fraudulently collected huge sums of
money from job seekers with a promise to employ them into the services
of the Federal University, Gusau and other federal government
agencies.ICPC informed the court that the accused, while acting as the
State Coordinator, FCC, in October, 2014, collected the N8.8 million
from several job seekers including N970, 000.00 from one Lawali Sule
Garba and his friends as financial commitment for processing their
employments.According to the Commission, his offence violates Section 1
(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004
and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.One of the counts
read, “That you, Ahmad Balarabe, in October 2014 or thereabouts at
Gusau, Zamfara State, whilst being the State Coordinator, Federal
Character Commission, with the intent to defraud, did obtain by false
pretense, the sum of N7, 700, 000.00 from unsuspecting job seekers under
the guise of securing employment for them into the Federal University,
Gusau, Zamfara State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 1 (1)(a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2004.The Deputy Director who now
heads Public Enlightenment, Media and Mobilisation Department of FCC,
pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him as his counsel, A.
Abubakar, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.Counsel to
ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, while agreeing that the accused be released on
bail, urged the court to be mindful of the penalties for the offence
which is a maximum of twenty years imprisonment.He therefore prayed the
court to ensure that the accused provided reasonable surety in line with
the provisions of the law before he would be admitted to bail.The trial
Judge, while ruling on the bail application, admitted the accused to
bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum. The
sureties must have landed property in Gusau, valued at N30 million each.
The bail conditions also required the accused to submit his
international passport with the court.Justice Bello ruled that Balarabe
should be remanded in the Gusau Central Prison, pending the fulfillment
of his bail conditions.
