Ogodo was charged before M.S. Idris, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court justice sitting in Jabi, Abuja.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has dragged an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) identified as Solomon Ogodo to court over alleged N12.2 million fraud.
This was disclosed in a statement by the ICPC on Thursday, stating that Ogodo was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on the fraud allegation.
The NSCDC officer was accused of defrauding members of the public under the guise of securing employment for people who wanted to work for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Ogodo was charged before M.S. Idris, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court justice sitting in Jabi, Abuja.
“In the 5-count charge, the Commission told the Court that the accused person on different occasions hoodwinked members of the public into parting with different sums of money in the guise of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS),” the statement reads.
“The Court was further informed of how Mr Ogodo, intending to commit fraud, forged offers of provisional appointments for some applicants into the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“His actions are contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, and contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the penal code act.
“The actions also violate and are punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act of 2006. The defendant entered a ‘not guilty’ plea when the charges were read to him.”
Osita Eze, the defendant's counsel, filed a bail application on his behalf.
Mashkur Salisu, ICPC counsel, requested that the court impose stringent conditions requiring the defendant to attend his trial.
The judge then granted Ogodo bail in the amount of N5 million, with two sureties in the same amount who must be FCT residents and civil servants not below grade level 12.
The judge also ordered the sureties to swear an affidavit of means, failing which the defendant would be remanded in the custody of the ICPC.
The case has been postponed until January 16, 2023, for the hearing stage.