The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully convicted Martins Ugwu, who fraudulently used the identity and credentials of his best friend to secure employment at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Ugwu was convicted on Tuesday by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, after being found guilty of a 7-count charge brought against him by the ICPC in February 2016. The charges included making false statements to the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), an act which violated Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and is punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the same Act.
The convict had impersonated Dr. George Daniel Davidson, his best friend, and used stolen documents to secure a position as a medical doctor in the Federal Ministry of Health in 2006. Over a 10-year period, Ugwu fraudulently earned approximately ₦17.2 million in salaries and allowances. He further used the fake credentials to obtain a staff identity card, apply for annual leave, and enroll in a postgraduate training program in Epidemiology Practice.
During sentencing, ICPC counsel Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha urged the court to order Ugwu to repay all the money he earned under false pretenses, citing Sections 319 and 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Justice Kutigi condemned Ugwu’s actions, stating that the case highlighted the growing threat of quack doctors in the healthcare sector. The court imposed a six-month consecutive jail term for each of the seven counts against Ugwu, amounting to a total of 3.5 years.
In addition to the prison term, Justice Kutigi ordered Ugwu to repay the total salaries and allowances fraudulently obtained during his time at the ministry. The court stipulated that failure to comply with the restitution order would result in an additional one-year prison sentence.
The judgment has been hailed as a significant step in deterring similar fraudulent practices and safeguarding the integrity of public service employment in Nigeria.
