NSCDC officer jailed for certificate forgery

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hassan Abdullahi, to seven years in prison for offences bordering on certificate forgery and corrupt self-enrichment.

The NSCDC officer was sentenced to prison after he was found guilty on a two-count charge preferred against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Delivering judgement, Justice E. Okpe sentenced Abdullahi to two years imprisonment or a fine of N2,000,000 on count one, and five years imprisonment without an option of fine on count two.

The judge also ordered the convict to refund all salaries, benefits, and emoluments received from the date he fraudulently upgraded his career until he ceased receiving salaries from the federal government.

The ICPC’s prosecutor, Hamza Sani, told the the court how the convict “dishonestly” presented a forged Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) of Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, Kebbi State, to the NSCDC in December 2010 for the purpose of career advancement.

Sani said the offence contravened Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act.

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On count two, Sani told the court that between December 2011 and October 2022, Abdullahi, while serving as a public officer, used his position to confer corrupt advantage on himself by receiving salaries and benefits applicable to the rank of Senior Inspector on the basis of the forged certificate earlier submitted.

The ICPC’s prosecutor added that the act violated Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Reacting via a statement issued on Monday, the ICPC described the judgement as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s support in the fight against corruption, “particularly in the public service where acts such as certificate forgery and corrupt self-enrichment undermine professionalism, integrity, and public trust.”

The ICPC added that it remains committed to the diligent investigation and prosecution of all forms of corruption, and urged public institutions to strengthen their internal verification processes to prevent such abuses.

The Star