The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Hassan Abdullahi, a Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The convict was found guilty on two counts of certificate forgery and obtaining corrupt advantage, following a diligent prosecution by the Commission.
Delivering judgment at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, Honourable Justice E. Okpe found Abdullahi guilty of presenting a forged Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) from Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, Kebbi State, to the NSCDC in December 2010.
This fraudulent act was committed to secure undue career advancement, contravening Sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code Act. The court sentenced him to two years imprisonment or a fine of ₦2,000,000 on this count.
On the second count, the court established that between December 2011 and October 2022, Abdullahi, while serving as a public officer, unlawfully used his position to confer corrupt advantage upon himself. He received salaries and benefits commensurate with the rank of Senior Inspector – a promotion secured solely through the forged certificate – in violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
For this offence, the court handed down a stiffer sentence of five years imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In addition to the custodial sentences, Justice Okpe, invoking Section 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, ordered the convict to refund all salaries, benefits, and emoluments fraudulently received from the date of his illicit career upgrade until his removal from the government payroll.
This restitution order highlights the judiciary’s commitment to not only punishing offenders but also recovering illicit gains.
The ICPC has welcomed the judgment as a robust reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role in combating corruption, particularly within public institutions where acts like certificate forgery erode professionalism, integrity, and public trust.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to investigating and prosecuting all forms of corruption and urged public agencies to strengthen internal verification mechanisms to prevent similar abuses in the future.
