By Christopher Oji
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
has confirmed the arraignment of an Immigration Officer, Abubakar Aseku, for allegedly drawing salaries from three government agencies.
ICPC Director, Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare confirmed this in a statement yesterday, saying that ,”the officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, was collecting salaries from two other agencies, while also receiving from NIS”.
He said that Aseku appeared on Tuesday before Justice Binta Dogonyaro of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a nine-count charge bordering on abuse of office and corruption.
“The defendant allegedly received N4.2 million in salaries from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in 2015, while working as a school teacher, despite being on active duty with the NIS.
“He is further accused of drawing N13.4 million in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), between 2018 and 2019, while employed by NIS.
“In addition, Aseku, as a Pay Officer with the NIS, allegedly facilitated the payment of N4.7 million in salaries to seven individuals, who were neither employees of the NIS nor on its payroll,” he alleged.
Bakare said Aseku pleaded not guilty to all charges, while his counsel, Basil Hemba, informed the court that his client had previously been granted bail by another FCT High Court sitting in Maitama and urged the court to maintain the existing bail terms.
He said that Justice Dogonyaro upheld the bail conditions, which had been granted by the Maitama court.
The ICPC’s counsel, Michael Adesola, requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution to present its witnesses, as the presiding judge adjourned to April 29, 2025, for further hearing of the matter.