The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former staff of the Court of Appeal, Munirat Abdulazeez, for allegedly defrauding eight unsuspecting job seekers of ₦9.2 million under the guise of securing them employment in top federal government agencies.
According to the charge sheet, Abdulazeez reportedly collected the sums from her victims with the promise of offering them non-existent jobs at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The ICPC told the court that the defendant committed the offences between 2021 and 2023, taking advantage of the desperation of her victims during a period of rising unemployment. The anti-graft agency stated that her actions contravened Sections 13 and 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
At the arraignment before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abdulazeez pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution counsel requested that the court remand the accused in custody pending trial, while her defence team applied for bail.
Justice A.B. Mohammed adjourned the case to a later date for the hearing of the bail application and ordered Abdulazeez to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Facility.
The ICPC reiterated its commitment to rooting out employment-related fraud and advised Nigerians to avoid unverified job offers, especially those requesting upfront payments.
