Mother of five jailed for forging late Abba Kyari’s signature

Google News Federal Capital Territory high court Police in Gwagwalada, Abuja, have sentenced Ramat Mbah, a mother of five, to one year in prison for her role in an elaborate employment fraud and forgery.

naija news According to reports, the court found Mba guilty of forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, the late Abba Kyari.

The Honorable Judge Ibrahim Muhammad, who presided over the case, handed down the verdict on Thursday.

The sentence followed a detailed prosecution led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

The commission had indicted Mba in June 2022 on five counts of cheating, fraud and forgery under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Criminal Code of Northern Nigeria.

During the trial, ICPC prosecutor Hamza Sani presented evidence of fraud in which Mba illegally collected NOK 4.5 million from various job applicants in 2020.

She falsely promised them employment at ICPC and the National Aerospace Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Compounding her crime was the discovery that Mbah had fraudulently forged the letterhead and signature of the late Abba Kyari on the letter she purportedly sent to the ICPC chairman. This letter requested the recruitment of three people.

However, during the trial it emerged that the late chief of staff had issued a written disclaimer confirming that he had not authorized such communications, which was also submitted as evidence in court.

ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare said Justice Mohammed convicted Mba on four of the five charges.

She was acquitted of the felony charge but faces a choice of six months in prison or a N100,000 fine on the first three charges related to cheating.

For the more serious forgery charge, the judge imposed a one-year prison sentence or a fine of NOK 150,000.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Muhammad took into account Mba’s status as a first-time offender and her responsibilities as a mother. Despite these considerations, the gravity of her conduct merited significant punishment.

This case highlights the continuing efforts of the Nigerian judiciary to combat corruption and fraud, particularly in the public sector recruitment process, and ensure that such deceptive practices face appropriate legal repercussions.