Two staff members of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs. Ndubuisi Joy Cheneme and Mr. Godwin Sabo Takat, were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of over N12m.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) brought the charges against the duo in a suit marked CR/243/2024, accusing them of obtaining money by false pretense and employment racketeering.
The ICPC counsel, Mr. Nura Saidu, told the court that the defendants’ actions contravened section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, Section18 (d) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and section 363 of the Penal Code Act, 1990.
One of the counts reads” “That you Godwin Sabo Takat (M) between January and June 2018 or thereabouts at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja whilst being a Staff of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with intent to defraud did induce by false pretense Ndubuisi Joy Chineme to confer a benefit on you by paying the sum of (N4,530,000.00K) Four Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira only in your First Bank account for securing employment for unsuspecting job seekers in the Federal Civil Service and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (2) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 9-count charge, and their counsel, Mr. E.E. Ogar and I.O. Nweze, filed separate bail applications.
The presiding Judge, Honourable Justice C.O. Oba, granted bail to the defendants at N2m with two sureties each, who must have N20m in their accounts and 2 landed properties in the FCT.
The defendants were remanded in Suleja and Kuje Correctional Centers pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until January 13, 2025, for the commencement of trial.