From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has commenced the trial of two civil servants accused of involvement in a ₦12 million job racketeering scheme.
The defendants, Mrs. Joy Ndubuisi Chineme from the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and Mr. Godwin Tabo Sakat from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, were first arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in July 2024 on nine counts.
According to a statement released by ICPC Spokesperson Demola Bakare on Tuesday, the prosecution presented its first witness, Mrs. Adah Ojoma, an Assistant Director at the Commission, during the trial, which began on Monday under the watch of Justice C.O. Oba.
Ojoma revealed that an investigation was initiated following a petition against Chineme on March 4, 2022. She detailed the financial irregularities uncovered during the investigation, including the discovery of ₦300,000 in Chineme’s bank account and various transactions totaling over ₦12 million. Significant transfers included ₦3.9 million in 2018, over ₦5 million in 2019, and ₦2.5 million in 2021, with ₦4.3 million transferred to Mr. Sakat.
Additionally, the investigation uncovered a fraudulent employment letter linked to the case. Mrs. Ojoma testified that Mrs. Chineme voluntarily provided her statement upon invitation to the Commission. However, the defendant’s counsel, E.E. Oga, contested the voluntariness of this statement, claiming it was made under duress, and requested a trial within a trial to address this issue.
In response, ICPC counsel Mr. Suleiman Abdulkareem acknowledged that while the statement was not a confession, he did not oppose the request for a trial within a trial.
During this phase, Mrs. Ojoma reiterated that Chineme was invited by the Commission and, after being informed of her legal rights, had sought assistance from her husband and sister to prepare her statement, citing difficulties with writing.
The defense requested an adjournment to present additional witnesses, leading the court to schedule the next hearing for March 25, 2025, to continue the proceedings.