The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully secured the conviction of Mr. Iyonu Eseme, an employee of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), for using a forged certificate to fraudulently secure employment with the federal agency.
In a press release issued on Friday, the ICPC disclosed that Mr. Eseme was convicted by Justice M.I. Tanko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja. He was found guilty of forging a Trade Test Certificate issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
According to the Commission, the forged document was presented in 2020 to gain employment with FAAN, a key agency responsible for the management and development of Nigeria’s airports. The forged certificate, bearing the code KN/6/90052 and dated 2014, claimed proficiency in Trade Test Categories I, II, and III.
Mr. Eseme was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on forgery and fraud, filed under Sections 366 and 368 of the Penal Code Act, and Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. One of the charges read:
“That you, Iyonu Eseme (M), sometime in the month of August 2020 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did with intent to commit fraud, forge a Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Certificate of Competence also known as Trade Test Certificate I, II, III (2014) with trade test code KN/6/90052, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.”
During court proceedings, the defendant opted for a plea bargain through his legal counsel, Mr. Anthony Idanosa Eruaga. The ICPC prosecutor, Mr. Nura Saidu, accepted the plea bargain as provided under Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and recommended to the court a conviction accompanied by a monetary fine.
Justice Tanko subsequently convicted Mr. Eseme and sentenced him to a fine of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000.00) only.
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The Commission, in its statement signed by its spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Mr. Demola Bakare, fsi, reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing Nigeria’s public institutions and ensuring that integrity and accountability are upheld in all government agencies.
“The ICPC warns that acts of forgery and other corrupt practices will not go unpunished. This conviction serves as a deterrent to individuals attempting to defraud government institutions through falsified documents,” the statement read.
Forgery in the Nigerian public sector has been a persistent issue, undermining the credibility of recruitment processes and compromising public service delivery. The ICPC continues to intensify its efforts in rooting out such unethical practices and prosecuting offenders in accordance with the law.
The successful prosecution of Mr. Eseme adds to the growing list of convictions secured by the anti-graft agency in its bid to restore trust and professionalism in Nigeria’s public service.
