Abuja court jails civil servant one-year for duping job applicant N1m

An Abuja High Court has sentenced Evis Okerenyi, an employee of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, to one year in prison for duping a job applicant by promising him a position in the Federal Civil Service.

The case was brought before Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following an investigation into the matter.

According to findings by the anti-graft agency, Okerenyi obtained N1 million from Titus Tavershima under false pretenses, claiming he could secure him employment in the civil service.

The ICPC stated that Okerenyi’s actions were in violation of Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, 2006.

In a statement issued on Sunday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare explained that the charges were reduced from seven to one following a plea bargain arrangement with the defendant.

“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 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 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,” the statement partly read.