The ICPC arraigned Aishatu Abdullahi and Rahila Ghaji of the National Boundary Commission on fraud charges, alleging forgery and conspiracy to manipulate promotions

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Aishatu Abdullahi, Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission (NBC), and Rahila Ghaji, an Assistant Chief Accountant, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

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The duo was accused of conspiring to allow Ghaji’s participation in a senior promotion exercise and her confirmation to Chief Accountant (Level 14) while she remained employed at Galaxy Backbone Limited.

Ghaji was also charged with forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, allegedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for leave of absence from NBC.

The ICPC stated that the alleged offences violate Section 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under Section 19 of the same Act.

When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded not guilty. The prosecution, led by Fatimah Bardi, requested a trial date to present its case.

The defence counsels, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, applied for bail on behalf of their clients, which the prosecution did not oppose. Justice Yusuf Halilu granted bail under stringent conditions:

1. Two sureties for each defendant, who must reside in Abuja and be civil servants at the director level in a federal parastatal.

2. Sureties must provide evidence of employment, sign undertakings to produce the defendants in court, and agree to imprisonment if they fail to do so.

3. Defendants were required to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar.

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The judge ordered the defendants’ remand at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions. The case was adjourned to March 17 for trial commencement.