Aviation Ministry Worker Jailed for N1m Job Scam in Abuja

An employee of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Elvis Okerenyi, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for defrauding a job seeker of N1 million under the pretext of securing him a position in the Federal Civil Service.

The conviction followed a case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which revealed during investigation that Okerenyi had obtained the money from one Titus Tavershima with a false promise of employment.

The offence, the ICPC noted, violated Section 320 and is punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, 2006.

In a statement issued on Sunday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare disclosed that a plea bargain deal led to the reduction of the original seven-count charge to a single count.

Okerenyi pleaded guilty to the amended charge before Justice S.C. Oriji. As a result, he was convicted in line with Section 270(10) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Justice Oriji handed him a one-year jail term with an option of paying a N200,000 fine. The court also ordered Okerenyi to pay N350,000 as restitution to Tavershima, the victim of his scam.