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 collecting salaries from two additional government agencies while still employed by the NIS.
Mr. Aseku appeared before Justice Binta Dogonyaro of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Tuesday, facing a nine-count charge related to abuse of office and corruption.
According to the ICPC, he 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 also accused of receiving N13.4 million in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) between 2018 and 2019 while still employed by the Immigration Service.
Additionally, as a Pay Officer at the NIS, Mr. Aseku allegedly facilitated the payment of N4.7 million in salaries to seven individuals who were not employees of the NIS or on its payroll.
One of the charges against him states: “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 a 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 lawyer, Mr. Basil Hemba, requested the court to uphold the bail terms previously granted by another FCT High Court in Maitama. Justice Dogonyaro agreed to maintain the existing bail conditions.
The ICPC’s counsel, Mr. Michael Adesola, sought an adjournment to allow the prosecution to present its witnesses. The court subsequently adjourned the case to April 29, 2025, for further hearing.
