A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Idris Barde, for his involvement in a N4.55 million recruitment scam.
Drivetvnews gathered that Justice Ngozika Nwabulu found Barde guilty of fraudulently collecting money from a job seeker after falsely promising to secure employment for seven applicants into the NSCDC.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which prosecuted the case, charged the senior officer with two counts of corruption and abuse of office.
According to the anti-corruption agency, the offence dates back to 2017 when Barde, who served as Personal Assistant to the former NSCDC Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana, received N4.55 million from Igbo Christian Okechukwu under the false claim that he could influence the recruitment process.
During the trial, the prosecution presented documentary evidence and witness testimonies, which the court accepted as sufficient proof of the defendant’s involvement in the illegal recruitment scheme.
Following his conviction, Justice Nwabulu sentenced Barde to 12 months in prison, with the option of paying a ₦4 million fine.
The ICPC described the judgment as a demonstration of its commitment to combating corruption and holding public officials accountable for abusing their positions.
The commission also reaffirmed its resolve to continue investigating and prosecuting corrupt practices in public institutions, warning government officials against exploiting their offices for personal gain.
