Court Jails NSCDC Officer for Collecting N4.55m in Fake Recruitment Scam

BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kurudu, Abuja, has convicted and sentenced an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Idris Barde, for his involvement in a fraudulent employment scheme.
Barde, a Deputy Commandant who previously served as Personal Assistant to former NSCDC Commandant General Abdullahi Gana, was prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on charges linked to job racketeering.

The anti-corruption agency told the court that the defendant received N4.55 million from Igbo Christian Okechukwu after promising to secure employment opportunities in the NSCDC for seven individuals.

The case was heard by Justice Ngozika Nwabulu, who examined documentary exhibits and witness testimonies presented by the prosecution to establish the allegations against the senior officer.

According to the charge, Barde collected the money in Abuja in 2017 while serving in the office of the NSCDC Commandant General. Prosecutors argued that the payment was accepted as an inducement to facilitate recruitment into the paramilitary agency, an act that contravenes provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
After reviewing the evidence, Justice Nwabulu found the defendant guilty and imposed a 12-month prison sentence. The court, however, gave him the option of paying a N4 million fine in place of serving the jail term.
Commenting on the judgment, the ICPC described the conviction as a significant step in its efforts to combat corruption and ensure that public officials who abuse their positions are held accountable.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to strengthening transparency, integrity, and accountability within public institutions across the country. It also urged government workers and members of the public to adhere to ethical conduct and respect the rule of law.
The anti-graft agency further assured Nigerians that it would continue to employ all legal means to prevent, investigate, and prosecute acts of corruption wherever they occur.