A staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Elvis Okerenyi, has been sentenced to one year in prison by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for defrauding a job seeker under false pretences.
Okerenyi was found guilty of collecting N1 million from Mr. Titus Tavershima on the promise of securing him employment in the Federal Civil Service—a promise that was never fulfilled.
Justice S.C. Oriji presided over the case after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) charged Okerenyi to court.
The ICPC said the act violated Section 320 and is punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT.
According to a statement released on Sunday by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the defendant entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.
As a result, the original seven-count charge was reduced to a single amended count, to which he pleaded guilty.
“Based on the plea bargain agreement, the court convicted the defendant and sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of a N200,000 fine,” the statement said.
In addition to the jail term or fine, Justice Oriji also ordered the convict to pay N350,000 in restitution to the victim.
The ICPC emphasized that the commission remains committed to rooting out corruption and fraud, particularly in government institutions, and warned the public to remain vigilant against job racketeering schemes.
