The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Aishatu Abdullahi, Director of Administration and Supplies at the National Boundary Commission (NBC), and Mrs. Rahila Ghaji, an Assistant Chief Accountant with the agency, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Wednesday.
The two women face charges of conspiracy and abuse of office.
They are accused of allowing Ghaji to participate in a senior promotion exercise and secure her confirmation to the rank of Chief Accountant (Level 14) while she was still employed at Galaxy Backbone Limited.
Ghaji is also accused of forging an admission letter from Carnegie Mellon University, Rwanda, purportedly addressed to her husband, Suleiman Mishara, to support her application for a leave of absence from the NBC.
The charges against them are in violation of Section 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, which is punishable under Section 19 of the same Act. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their not guilty pleas, the prosecution, represented by Fatimah Bardi, requested a trial date to allow the ICPC to present its case.
In response, the defense lawyers, Akinyemi Aremu and Adebayo Eniwaye, applied for bail for their clients, a request that the prosecution did not oppose.
Justice Yusuf Halilu granted bail to the defendants, requiring each to provide two sureties.
The sureties must be residents of Abuja, civil servants of at least the rank of director in any federal parastatal, and able to provide evidence of their first employment and most recent promotion.
The sureties must also sign an undertaking to ensure the defendants’ presence in court for the duration of the trial and face imprisonment if they fail to do so.
The judge also ordered the defendants to deposit their travel documents with the court registrar and remanded them at the Suleja Correctional Centre until their bail conditions are met.
The case was adjourned to March 17 for the commencement of trial.
