ICPC arraigns boundary commission officials for forgery

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned two officials of the National Boundary Commission, Aishatu Abdullahi, Director of Administration and Supplies, and Ghaji Rahila, Assistant Chief Accountant on charges of forgery and abuse of office.  

According to a statement by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the duo faces a five-count charge, including conspiracy to allow Rahila to participate in a senior promotion exercise and secure a Chief Accountant (Level 14) position while simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.

Rahila is also accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, allegedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to justify her application for a leave of absence.

The statement read, “That you, Ghaji Rahila (F), and Aishatu Abdullahi (F), sometime in 2021 or thereabout in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, as Assistant Chief Accountant and Director of Administration & Supplies of the National Boundary Commission respectively, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: conferring unfair advantage by allowing Ghaji Rahila to participate in the senior staff promotion exercise at the National Boundary Commission while Galaxy Backbone Limited simultaneously employed her. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

Bakare said the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.

He said the ICPC’s counsel, Fatimah Bardi, applied for a date for the commencement of the trial while counsel for the defendants, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, moved applications for bail on behalf of their clients.

Bakare said Justice Halilu granted the defendants bail on the condition that they provide two sureties each, who must be Abuja residents and civil servants of the rank of director in any federal parastatal.

He said the judge ordered that the sureties must also provide evidence of their first 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 in court.

Bakare quoted the judge as saying “Such directors must sign letters of undertaking to produce the defendants in court throughout their trial and agree to be put in prison upon failure to produce the first and second defendants in court.

“The said defendants shall also deposit their travelling documents with the Registrar of the court. In the event that they (defendants) fail to meet these conditions, they should be remanded in Suleja Prison till the next adjourned date.”