The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Aishatu Abdullahi, the Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission (NBC), and Ghaji Rahila, the Assistant Chief Accountant, over allegations of forgery and abuse of office.

The defendants appeared before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday to face a five-count charge brought against them by the ICPC.

Allegations Against the Defendants

According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, the charges against Abdullahi and Rahila include conspiracy, forgery, and abuse of office. The ICPC alleged that Rahila, with Abdullahi’s complicity, secured promotion to the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) at the National Boundary Commission while simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited.

Furthermore, Rahila was accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for a leave of absence from the National Boundary Commission.

The statement from the ICPC read: “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 she was simultaneously employed by Galaxy Backbone Limited. 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.”

Court Proceedings

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The ICPC’s counsel, Fatimah Bardi, requested a date for the trial to commence, while defense counsels, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, filed applications for bail on behalf of their clients.

Justice Halilu granted the defendants bail with stringent conditions. Each defendant is required to provide two sureties, who must:

• Be residents of Abuja.
• Be civil servants of the rank of director in any federal parastatal.
• Submit evidence of their first employment and last promotion.
• Sign letters of undertaking to ensure the defendants appear in court throughout the trial.
• Agree to imprisonment should they fail to produce the defendants in court.

Additionally, the defendants were ordered to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar. The judge stipulated that failure to meet these bail conditions would result in their remand at Suleja Prison until the next court date.

Next Steps

The case has been adjourned to March 17, 2025, for the commencement of the hearing. The ICPC has expressed its commitment to ensuring that the investigation and trial are conducted thoroughly and transparently.

Implications

This case underscores the ICPC’s efforts to address corruption within public institutions and highlights the need for accountability in Nigeria’s civil service. By pursuing charges against high-ranking officials, the commission aims to deter similar acts of misconduct and reinforce the integrity of public service.

The outcome of the trial is expected to set a precedent for handling cases of forgery, abuse of office, and corruption within government agencies, reflecting the broader national commitment to transparency and accountability.