Imagine trusting someone in uniform, whose role is to protect and serve you, with the whole of your heart.
As a result, you hand over your hard-earned money, believing the uniform man should have integrity and help secure a brighter future for your family.
That is when you face the reality of life.
After you handed them money, the promises shattered like glass, and the person you trusted turns out to be the very source of betrayal.
Nigeria has many job seekers and the amount of people who run for a position in an establishment is so humongous that some CVs are actually trashed.
So, when one finds an opportunity, one is likely to jump on it with everything, including parting with money.
Many job seekers experienced this bitter reality at the hands of Solomon Ogodo, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
NSCDC Employment Scam
Following investigations, Justice M.S. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, delivered a verdict that reflected the gravity of this betrayal.
Mr. Solomon Ogodo was sentenced to seven years in prison for forgery, employment fraud, and racketeering.
This followed a case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Mr. Ogodo was found guilty of defrauding job seekers of a total of ₦12,200,000.
He had promised to secure employment for their relatives in the Nigeria Correctional Services, using forged provisional appointment letters to deceive his victims.
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Violation Of Laws
According to ICPC prosecutor Hamza Sani, Mr. Ogodo’s actions clearly violated several laws.
This includes the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Penal Code Act, and the Advanced Fee Fraud Act of 2006.
Before the sentencing, Ogodo’s lawyer, A. A. Nwoye, pleaded with the court to convert the prison term into community service.
However, the prosecution opposed this request, urging the court to prioritise compensating the victims for their losses.
Justice Idris firmly emphasised the seriousness of the crimes, noting that they undermined public trust in the NSCDC.
“The convict must face the consequences of his actions to serve as a deterrent to others,” the judge concluded.
The court was silent, many in their minds, wondered what other officials of security agencies out there could harbour such a disloyalty to humanity.
