Mr. Iyonu Eseme, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) employee, was found guilty by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) of using a fake Trade Test Certificate to get a job with the organization.
Eseme was charged with three counts that bordered on forgery and was arraigned before Justice M.I. Tanko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
The accusations were filed in accordance with Section 25 (1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act 2000 and Sections 366 and 368 of the Penal Code Act
“That you, Iyonu Eseme (M), within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, sometime in the month of August 2020 in Abuja, faked a Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Certificate of Competence, also known as Trade Test Certificate I, II, III (2014) with trade test code KN/6/90052, with the intent to commit fraud, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code,” stated one of the charges.
The defendant chose a plea deal at arraignment through his attorney, Mr. Anthony Idanosa Eruaga.
In line with Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Mr. Nura Saidu, the ICPC’s prosecuting attorney, accepted the plea deal and suggested to the court a conviction with a fine.
After taking into account Eseme’s plea and the compromise reached by both sides, Justice M.I. Tanko found him guilty and only fined him N50,000.
In response to the incident, the ICPC reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining honesty and openness in government agencies and issued a warning that forgeries and other corrupt activities will not be tolerated.
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