By Olawale Lamina
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ,ICPC, has secured conviction in a case involving a staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Elvis Simon Okerenyi, who was facing charges bordering on forgery and giving ‘fake employment’ to a job-seeker.
The ICPC investigations revealed that Mr. Okerenyi allegedly defrauded a job seeker, Titus Tavershima, of the sum of (N1,000,000.00) One Million Naira to secure employment in the Federal Civil Service. The act, according to the anti-graft body is contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, 2006.
A statement by the Commission’s Director, Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, fsi said, “subsequently, the defendant entered into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution; “the initial seven-count charge was amended to a count charge to which the defendant pleaded guilty.
“The defendant pleaded guilty upon his arraignment based on a plea bargain agreement before Justice S. C. Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was convicted pursuant to section 270(10) ACJA on the only charge in the amended charge.
“The court further sentenced the convict to one (1) year imprisonment or an option of a fine of N200,000.00 and ordered him to restitute the sum of N350,000.00 to Titus Tavershima, the victim of his crime.”
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