NSCDC officer jailed seven years for N12.2m employment racketeering

Solomon Ogodo, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has been sentenced to seven years in prison for forgery, employment racketeering, and fraud amounting to N12.2 million.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday pronounced Ogodo guilty after he was accused of defrauding unsuspecting job seekers.

In his ruling, M.S. Idris, the trial judge, sentenced Ogodo to seven years imprisonment on counts 1 to 3, without an option of fine.

The judge also sentenced the defendant to two months imprisonment or an option of a N5,000 fine on count 4.

In a statement published on its website, the commission informed the court that Ogodo deceived people into parting with various sums of money under the guise of securing employment for their relatives in the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS).

The offence, NSCDC revealed, contravened Sections 13 and 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, as well as Sections 363 and 364 of the Penal Code Act.

Legal counsel for the defendant, A.A. Nwoye, pleaded with the court to convert the jail term to community service, arguing that the provision mandates the defendant to pay compensation for all the money collected from the victims.

However, the plea was denied.