ICPC Arraigns Two Boundary Commission Officials for Forgery, Abuse of Office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission, Mrs Aishatu Abdullahi, and an Assistant Chief Accountant, Mrs Ghaji Rahila, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office.

The duo were arraigned on a five-count charge before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja. According to the ICPC, the defendants conspired to enable the first defendant, Rahila, to participate in a senior promotion exercise and secure her confirmation to the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission, even though she was simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.

Rahila was also accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for leave of absence at the National Boundary Commission.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, ICPC counsel Fatimah Abdullahi Bardi requested a trial date. Meanwhile, counsel for the defendants, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, applied for bail for their clients.

The judge granted bail, requiring each defendant to provide two sureties who must be Abuja residents and civil servants on the rank of director in a federal parastatal. The sureties are also required to sign an undertaking to produce the defendants in court throughout the trial or risk imprisonment.

The defendants were further directed to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar. Failure to meet these conditions would result in their remand at Suleja Prison until the next court date.

The case was adjourned to March 17, 2025, for the commencement of hearing. Also, a retired Director in the Office of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Mrs Mayen Gajere, has testified for the ICPC in the ongoing forgery trial of Mr Taiwo Stephen Ayodeji.

Ayodeji is standing trial before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya, on charges of forgery and obtaining money by false pretence.

The ICPC, in charge number CR/008, accused the defendant of forging an employment letter from the Federal Ministry of Power and fraudulently collecting salaries totalling N760,705.44 over an 11-month period.

During the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mrs Gajere, presented by the ICPC as Prosecution Witness 3, outlined the procedures for employment in government parastatals and the operations of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

She detailed the steps involved in the recruitment and appointment processes within the Federal Civil Service and how civil servants are integrated into the IPPIS payment system.

Another ICPC official, Mr Victor Okorafor, also testified as Prosecution Witness 2, presenting findings from the commission’s investigation into the case. Beyond the allegations of forgery and fraudulent salary collection, Ayodeji is being prosecuted for allegedly providing false statements to an ICPC investigator, an offence under Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

The defendant, who was arraigned on February 12, 2024, had pleaded not guilty to all charges and was subsequently granted bail. After listening to the testimonies, Justice Shafa adjourned the case to March 24, 2025, for the adoption of a no-case submission.