The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a former official of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Muhammad Said Musa, for making false statements through the use of forged academic and service certificates.
The conviction was delivered on Wednesday by Honourable Justice B. Mandy Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting at Court 55, Asokoro, Abuja, following a one-count amended charge filed against the defendant pursuant to a plea bargain agreement.
This was contained in a statement signed by J. Okor Odey, the spokesperson for the Commission, a copy of which was made available to the press in Kano on Wednesday.
According to the ICPC, Musa fraudulently obtained and presented a forged Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree certificate in Political Science, purportedly issued by the University of Maiduguri, alongside a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Certificate of National Service, which he used to secure employment with the NIPC.
The offence was uncovered after the Commission received a request from the Executive Secretary of the NIPC to conduct a staff verification audit.
During the exercise, ICPC investigators discovered that the certificates submitted by Musa were not genuine.Independent verification later confirmed that both documents were forged.
In Charge No: CR/113/25, counsel to the ICPC, Barrister O. R. Bada, told the court that the defendant’s actions contravened Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The prosecution disclosed that Musa was initially arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on forgery and false statements.
However, the charges were reduced to a single count following his application for leniency and willingness to cooperate with investigators, in line with a plea bargain agreement.
ICPC counsel noted that the agreement served the interest of justice, adding that the defendant showed remorse and cooperated fully during the investigation and prosecution.
As part of the plea bargain, Musa refunded the sum of ₦36,590,943.21, representing salaries and other benefits earned from the false representation, into the ICPC Recovery Account.
Counsel to the defendant, Barrister C.O.C. Emeka Izima, told the court that his client was remorseful and had demonstrated genuine repentance by refunding all proceeds derived from the offence.
In her judgment, Justice Bassi upheld the plea bargain agreement and sentenced the defendant to a non-custodial sentence.
She ordered him to be of good conduct and to pay a fine of ₦50,000.
The ICPC said the conviction underscores its commitment to promoting integrity and accountability in the public service, in line with its statutory mandate.
