A staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Elvis Simon Okerenyi, has been convicted for job scam fraud after he was found guilty of defrauding a job seeker of ₦1 million.
According to investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Okerenyi collected the sum of ₦1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) from Titus Tavershima under the false promise of securing him a job in the Federal Civil Service.
The fraudulent act, which involved forgery and fake employment letters, contravenes Section 320 and is punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, 2006.
During the trial, the defendant opted for a plea bargain agreement with the ICPC prosecution team. The initial seven-count charge was reduced to a single count charge, to which Okerenyi pleaded guilty before Justice S. C. Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Oriji convicted Okerenyi under Section 270(10) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of a ₦200,000.00 fine. The court also ordered him to pay ₦350,000.00 restitution to the victim, Titus Tavershima.
