By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Aseku, an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), for allegedly drawing salaries from two additional government agencies while still employed by the NIS.
Mr. Aseku appeared on Tuesday before Justice Binta Dogonyaro of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a nine-count charge bordering on abuse of office and corruption.
According to a signed statement by Demola Bakare, the commission’s spokesperson, the defendant allegedly received N4.2 million in salaries from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in 2015 while working as a school teacher, despite being on active duty with the NIS.
He is further accused of drawing N13.4 million in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) between 2018 and 2019, while employed by the Immigration Service.
In addition, Mr. Aseku, as a Pay Officer with the NIS, allegedly facilitated the payment of N4.7 million in salaries to seven individuals who were neither employees of the NIS nor on its payroll.
One of the charges reads:
“That you, Abubakar Mohammed Aseku, between October 2018 and October 2019, in Abuja, while serving as an Assistant Superintendent Immigration Officer, used your position to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving a total sum of N13,400,889.90 in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources, while concurrently employed by the Nigerian Immigration Service, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Mr. Aseku pleaded not guilty to all charges. His counsel, Mr. Basil Hemba, informed the court that his client had previously been granted bail by another FCT High Court sitting in Maitama and urged the court to maintain the existing bail terms.
Justice Dogonyaro upheld the bail conditions, which had been granted by the Maitama court. The ICPC’s counsel, Mr. Michael Adesola, requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution to present its witnesses.
The presiding judge later adjourned to April 29, 2025, for further hearing of the matter.
