An Abuja High Court has sentenced Elvis Simon Okerenyi, an employee of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, to one year in prison for defrauding a job seeker of ₦1 million with false promises of securing a federal civil service position.
Justice S.C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court delivered the judgment following prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Okerenyi faced charges of employment fraud and forgery.
Initially arraigned on May 24, 2019, on a seven-count charge, investigations showed Okerenyi took ₦1 million from Titus Tavershima, assuring him a civil service job. To maintain the ruse, Okerenyi forged an appointment letter, promotion letter, redeployment circular, and an IPPIS registration printout, falsely claiming these documents came from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
Okerenyi initially pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of ₦3 million with two Abuja-based sureties. However, after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors, the charges were reduced to a single count, to which he pleaded guilty.
ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare said the court convicted Okerenyi under Section 270(10) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Justice Oriji sentenced him to one year imprisonment or an option of a ₦200,000 fine. The court also ordered Okerenyi to refund ₦350,000 to the victim, Tavershima.
The ICPC highlighted that Okerenyi’s actions violated several laws, including the Penal Code, ICPC Act 2000, and the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006.
This conviction highlights the Commission’s ongoing efforts to combat employment fraud in the civil service and protect citizens from exploitation by public officers.
