The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has charged Mr. Yildiyel Musa Takat, an Assistant Director in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), and Mr. Nankpat Dukbong, an Administration Officer at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), with conspiracy, fraud, and employment scam.
This was said in a statement provided to journalists on Wednesday by ICPC spokesman Mrs. Azuka Ogugua.
The two were taken before Honourable Justice O. A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 7, located in Jabi, Abuja, according to Charge No. CR/151/2022, the statement claims.
In a six-count complaint, the ICPC accused the defendants of conspiring, abusing their positions, and cheating unwary job seekers out of N2,900,000 (2,000,000 Naira).
The Commission, accompanied by its counsel, explained to the court how the accused individuals solicited and obtained sums of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) and Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,400,000) from their victims under the pretense of getting them jobs in the Federal Civil Service on separate occasions.
According to the statement, the second defendant (Dukbong) was charged with counts 1, 3, and 4 while the first defendant (Takat) was charged with counts 1, 2, and 5.
“Their activities violate Section 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act, 2000, and are penalized in accordance with Section 18.
“The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them,” it stated.
“Both attorneys for the first and second defendants moved for bail application on behalf of their clients in two separate “Motions on Notice” in accordance with sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended as well as sections 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
“They both requested the Court’s assistance in using its discretion to grant the bail under the most lenient conditions.”
“In a hasty response, counsel for the ICPC opposed the prayers requested by counsel for the first defendant in a counter motion, claiming that the defendant had been avoiding trial and that the court should not grant them because the defendant was a serial offender with numerous court cases against him. However, the second defendant’s application for bail was not opposed.
“The trial court admitted the first accused person to bail in the amount of Four Million Naira (N4,000,000) and a surety in the same amount, who had to be a government worker on grade level 08 or higher, after hearing from both parties. The surety was also instructed to turn in his identity card, first appointment letter, and latest promotion letter.
“The second defendant received bail in the amount of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) and a surety in the same amount.
“Justice Musa further decided that the sureties had to present court with proof of their FCT residency, including a clear address and a photo of themselves with their residents. In addition, he requested that they sign a bond that would require the defendants to appear in court; otherwise, their bail would be revoked and the sureties would be prosecuted.
The announcement states, “The matter was adjourned to the 19th of October 2023 for hearing.”