ICPC arraigns boundary commission director, staff with forgery, abuse of office

The two were presented in court yesterday before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

In a five-count indictment, the ICPC accused the defendants of conspiring to allow Rahila to participate in a senior promotion exercise and secure her confirmation as Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission while she was simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.

A statement from ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare revealed that Rahila is also accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for a leave of absence from the National Boundary Commission.

The statement read, “You, Ghaji Rahila (F), and Aishatu Abdullahi (F), on or about 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, as Assistant Chief Accountant and Director of Administration & Supplies of the National Boundary Commission, conspired to commit an offense by allowing Ghaji Rahila to participate in the senior staff promotion exercise while she was simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited. This constitutes an offense under Section 26(1)(c) and is punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Bakare noted that the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Bakare mentioned that ICPC’s counsel, Fatimah Bardi, requested a date to begin the trial, while the defendants’ lawyers, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, filed bail applications for their clients.

Justice Halilu granted bail to the defendants, requiring each to provide two sureties who must be Abuja residents and civil servants at the director level in any federal agency.

The judge stipulated that the sureties must present evidence of their initial employment and last promotion, sign letters of undertaking to ensure the defendants appear in court throughout the trial, and agree to imprisonment should they fail to produce the defendants.

“The sureties must sign letters of undertaking to ensure the defendants appear in court for their trial and agree to be imprisoned if they fail to do so. Additionally, the defendants are required to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar. If they do not meet these conditions, they will be remanded in Suleja Prison until the next adjourned date,” Bakare quoted the judge.

The case has been adjourned until March 17, 2025, for the commencement of the hearing.