ICPC Secures Conviction of NSCDC Deputy Commandant Over ₦920,000 Employment Scam
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Sani Lawal, for allegedly collecting ₦920,000 from two job seekers under the false pretence of securing employment for them in the Corps.
The commission disclosed this in a press statement signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The conviction was affirmed by Justice A.A. Bawale of Katsina State High Court No. 3, following a plea bargain agreement reached between the prosecution and defence.
According to the ICPC, Lawal allegedly obtained the money from two complainants sometime in 2024, promising to facilitate their recruitment into the NSCDC.
Counsel to the commission, Haruna Hedima, Esq., told the court that the defendant had initially been arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on employment fraud.
However, following the plea bargain agreement, the conviction was entered on two counts, with the court adopting the terms of the agreement as its judgment.
Justice Bawale subsequently convicted Lawal and sentenced him to pay a ₦100,000 fine.
The offences were said to contravene Section 25(1)(a) and are punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The ICPC said the conviction reinforced its commitment to tackling corruption, particularly fraudulent recruitment schemes that exploit unsuspecting Nigerians seeking employment in government institutions.
The commission warned members of the public against individuals demanding money or gratification in exchange for promises of government employment, stressing that recruitment into the public service is conducted through established official procedures.
The ICPC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of employment fraud and other corrupt practices through its established reporting channels.
The commission reiterated that it would continue to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in corrupt practices, regardless of their status or position.
“Recruitment into public service is governed by established procedures and not through unofficial payments,” the ICPC warned.
The commission said the latest conviction should serve as a deterrent to public officers and other individuals who exploit job seekers by using access to government institutions to perpetrate fraudulent recruitment schemes.
