Mr Christopher Oluchukwu, a former Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has been convicted for his involvement in an employment scam.
In the case filed by the ICPC at the Katsina State High Court 3, the convict was accused of receiving the sum of N200,000, N300,000 and N400,000, respectively, from three individuals under the pretext of securing jobs for their children with the NSCDC.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Public Enlightenment and Education of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC, the victims had reported the matter to the ICPC after the convict failed to procure the said job and refused to refund their money.
The statement added that during the trial, counsel for the ICPC, Ibrahim Garba, had, in a 9-counts charge, told the court how the action of the convict negated sections 8, 10 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
One of the counts read, ”That you, Christopher Oluchukwu Ugwubujo, on or about 25th and 28th day of November 2014 within the jurisdiction of this court while being a public officer with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) conferred corrupt advantage upon yourself by obtaining a total sum of four hundred thousand naira (N400,000. 00) from one…for a job placement for her daughter into the NSCDC. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
In his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Abbas Bawale found Oluchukwu guilty on all nine counts and sentenced him to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Similarly, the trial judge pronounced that the sentences were to run concurrently. He added that even though the defendant was at large (he jumped bail), his sureties should be arrested and kept in custody for further investigation.