Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission, Aishatu Abdullahi, and the Assistant Chief Accountant, Ghaji Rahila, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office.
The ICPC accused the two officials of conspiring to allow Rahila
to participate in a senior promotion exercise and secure confirmation to the
rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission while
being simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.
A statement by ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare on Wednesday revealed
that Rahila was also accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie
Mellon University, Rwanda, purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman
Mishara, to support her application for a leave of absence from the National
Boundary Commission. The duo was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the
Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The charge sheet stated, “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.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
ICPC counsel Fatimah Bardi requested a date for the commencement of the trial,
while defence lawyers Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye applied for bail on
behalf of their clients.
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. The sureties are required to
present evidence of their first employment and last promotion, sign letters of
undertaking to ensure the defendants’ continuous court appearances, and agree
to imprisonment should they fail to produce the defendants in court.
The judge stated, “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.”
Additionally, the defendants were ordered to deposit their travel documents
with the court registrar. If the bail conditions are not met, they will be
remanded in Suleja Prison until the next hearing date, which is scheduled for
March 17, 2025.
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