ICPC Secures Conviction of Immigration Officer for Employment Scam in Katsina
Written By Okafor Joseph
July 21, 2025 – The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Saifullahi Haruna, an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, over a case of employment fraud involving N140,000.
Haruna was arraigned before the Katsina State High Court on a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretense and abuse of office, following a petition received by the anti-corruption agency.
According to ICPC, the incident occurred in 2021, when Haruna fraudulently collected N140,000 in installments from a job seeker under the false promise of securing employment for him in the Nigeria Immigration Service. The promised job never materialized, and Haruna failed to refund the money until the victim, Adamu Ibrahim, filed a formal complaint with the ICPC.
The convict pleaded guilty and entered a plea bargain agreement with the Commission. As part of the sentencing terms, the presiding judge, Justice A.B. Abdullahi, sentenced Haruna to one year imprisonment or, alternatively, a fine of N10,000.
“The court hereby accepts the plea bargain and accordingly offers the convict an option of fine in lieu of imprisonment,” Justice Abdullahi stated during the ruling.
The court also ordered that the recovered amount be refunded to the complainant if it had not already been paid.
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption and unethical practices within government agencies, including recruitment scams that exploit vulnerable job seekers. The Commission urged Nigerians to report any suspected cases of employment fraud or bribery in public service recruitment processes.
