The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed that 721 people forged their certificates to get Federal Government jobs between 2015 and 2018
The ICPC had carried out certificate verification of six government agencies, including the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons Service, Pension Transition Arrangement Department, Federal Fire Service and National Identity Management Commission.
Of the 40,808 staff of the six Federal Government agencies, 11,996 certificates had been verified by the commission, while 721 certificates were found to have been forged.
An ICPC source who confided in ThePunch noted that the investigation is still underway to determine the authenticity of the other certificates submitted by staff of the concerned agencies.
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The source said, “ICPC was contacted to verify the authenticity of academic and professional certificates of staff at the six FG agencies. Some of the certificates have been returned but we have 721 certificates verified to have been forged. Those who submitted the said certificates are still in court while we have secured varying degrees of court judgment for some of them. It is still an on-going exercise.”
According to the commission’s report on the case, assets worth N2.62bn were recovered by the agency from those who were found guilty of misusing their position as public officers within the three years.
The report also noted that cash worth N29bn was recovered by the commission from individuals and organisations, while 66 convictions were so far recorded. She added that within the period, 273 cases were filed by the commission in various courts across the country.