A staff member of the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Elvis Okerenyi, has been sentenced to one year imprisonment by an Abuja High Court for defrauding a job seeker under the guise of offering him employment in the Federal Civil Service.
Justice S.C. Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory handed down the sentence after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission dragged him to court.
Investigations by the commission had revealed that Okerenyi collected the sum of N1 million from one Titus Tavershima under the pretence of securing him a job in the Federal Civil Service.
The ICPC said the act contravenes Section 320 and is punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, 2006.
In a statement on Sunday, the ICPC’s spokesman, Demola Bakare, said following a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution, the original seven charges against the defendant were reduced to a single count.
Upon arraignment before Justice S. C. Oriji of the FCT High Court, Okerenyi pleaded guilty to the amended charge.
“The defendant pleaded guilty upon his arraignment based on a plea bargain agreement before Justice S. C. Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and was convicted pursuant to section 270(10) ACJA on the only charge in the amended charge.
“The court further sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment or an option of a fine of N200,000.00 and ordered him to restitute the sum of N350,000.00 to Titus Tavershima, the victim of his crime, ” the statement partly read.