According to a statement signed by Okor Odey, spokesperson for the Commission on Wednesday, the fraud was uncovered during a staff verification audit requested by the Executive Secretary of the NIPC.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a former official of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Muhammad Said Musa, for forging academic and service certificates to fraudulently secure public employment.
Musa was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Asokoro, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to making false statements and presenting forged documents, including a Bachelor of Science degree certificate purportedly issued by the University of Maiduguri and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate of National Service.
Justice B. Mandy Bassi, who delivered the judgment at Court 55, convicted Musa on a one-count amended charge following a plea bargain agreement between the defendant and the anti-graft agency.
According to a statement signed by Okor Odey, spokesperson for the Commission on Wednesday, the fraud was uncovered during a staff verification audit requested by the Executive Secretary of the NIPC.
The exercise revealed that the certificates submitted by Musa during his employment process were fake, a finding later confirmed through independent verification.
ICPC counsel, O.R. Bada, told the court that the offence, contained in Charge No: CR/113/25, contravened Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecution disclosed that Musa was initially arraigned on six counts bordering on forgery and false declaration. However, the charges were reduced to a single count after the defendant sought leniency and agreed to cooperate with investigators under a plea bargain arrangement.
As part of the agreement, Musa refunded ₦36,590,943.21, said to be salaries and other benefits he earned from the false representation, into the ICPC Recovery Account.
His lawyer, C.O.C. Emeka Izima, told the court that the defendant was remorseful and had shown genuine repentance by returning all proceeds derived from the offence.
Upholding the plea bargain, Justice Bassi sentenced Musa to a non-custodial term and ordered him to be of good conduct. The court also imposed a fine of ₦50,000.
The ICPC said the conviction underscores its resolve to enforce integrity in the public service and hold officials accountable for fraud and abuse of office.