Civil servant jailed one-year for ₦1m job scam

An Abuja High Court has sentenced Elvis Simon Okerenyi, a staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, to one year in prison for defrauding a job seeker of ₦1 million under the pretense of securing him a federal civil service job.

Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court delivered the judgment after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Okerenyi on charges bordering on employment fraud and forgery.

The convict had initially been arraigned on May 24, 2019, on a seven-count charge. Investigations revealed that he collected ₦1 million from one Titus Tavershima, promising to secure a job for him in the civil service. To sustain the deception, Okerenyi forged an appointment letter, a promotion letter, a redeployment circular, and an IPPIS registration printout—documents he claimed originated from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

He had pleaded not guilty at the time, and was granted bail in the sum of ₦3 million with two sureties resident in Abuja. However, following a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution, the charges were later reduced to a single count, to which Okerenyi pleaded guilty.

According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the court convicted Okerenyi under Section 270(10) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Justice Oriji sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of a ₦200,000 fine. The court also ordered that he restitute the sum of ₦350,000 to the victim, Tavershima.

ICPC noted that Okerenyi’s actions violated several laws, including Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code (Cap 532, Laws of the FCT), Section 8(a)(ii) of the ICPC Act 2000, and Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006.

The conviction underscores the Commission’s continued commitment to prosecuting employment-related fraud in the civil service and deterring public officers from exploiting vulnerable citizens.