The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Sani Lawal, a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), over his involvement in an employment recruitment scam.
The judgment was delivered by Justice A.A. Bawale of the Katsina State High Court No. 3, following a plea bargain agreement struck between the prosecution and the defence team.
Justice Bawale affirmed the terms of the agreement, sentencing the senior officer to pay a fine of ₦100,000.
Prosecution counsel for the ICPC, Haruna Hedima, Esq., presented to the court that Lawal had, in 2024, fraudulently collected ₦920,000 from two victims.
The defendant had promised to secure them job placements within the NSCDC under false pretences.
Although Lawal was initially facing an eight-count charge, his conviction was ultimately entered on two counts in accordance with the plea bargain adopted as the final judgment of the court.
Following the court’s ruling, the ICPC emphasized that the outcome reflects its unwavering commitment to curbing corruption and protecting unsuspecting citizens from recruitment scams.
The anti-graft agency reiterated its caution to the public against paying money or offering inducements to individuals claiming to offer employment in federal ministries, departments, or agencies (MDAs).
“Recruitment into the public service is strictly governed by established official procedures and not through backdoor payments,” the Commission warned, urging citizens to report any illegal job demands through its official reporting channels.