By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a former staff of the Court of Appeal, Munirat Abdulazeez, over her alleged involvement in a job racketeering scandal amounting to N9.2 million.
Abdulazeez, who also goes by the alias Jummai, was arraigned before Justice Godwin Iheabunke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Bwari, on Friday, following a bench warrant previously issued for her arrest after she failed to appear in court.
Demola Bakare the commission’s spokesperson in an official signed statement disclosed that the defendant defrauded eight unsuspecting victims by falsely promising them employment opportunities in key federal government institutions, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The Commission stated that the offences took place between September 2022 and July 2023.
Investigations revealed that Abdulazeez worked with the Court of Appeal from 2018 until her dismissal in 2023, following allegations of job racketeering and auction fraud. The anti-graft agency disclosed that she allegedly obtained the sum of N9,200,000 from multiple victims under false pretence.
A count in the two-count charge against her reads:
“That you, MUNIRAT ABDULAZEEZ (AKA JUMMAI) (F), sometimes between September to December 2022 and the month of January to July 2023 or thereabout at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being a staff with the Court of Appeal Nigeria, Abuja Division, with intent to defraud, did obtain by false pretence the sum of N9,200,000 (Nine Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from Musa Mohammed Maude and his other friends including Sule Sadanu, Haruna Idris Lokos, Yusuf Musa, Mahmud Jibrin, Adama Mohammed Maude, Shuaibu Musa, Ahmed Sunusi and Aliyu Ahmed, which sum was paid into your Access Bank account under the guise of securing employment for them in NIMASA, CBN and FIRS, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.”
When the charge was read in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following her plea, ICPC counsel, Mr. Hamza Sani, informed the court of the Commission’s readiness to proceed with trial and requested that the matter be fixed for hearing, with a proposed date of 13th June 2025 to present prosecution witnesses.
Although the defence moved an application for bail, the ICPC did not oppose the motion. Justice Iheabunke granted Abdulazeez bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
In his ruling, the judge specified that the sureties must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The title documents of said property are to be deposited with the Court Registrar for verification. Additionally, the defendant must obtain the court’s permission in writing before travelling.
Justice Iheabunke thereafter adjourned the matter to 20th June 2025 to allow the prosecution to assemble its witnesses, while the earlier fixed date of 13th June was vacated by mutual consent of both counsels.
