The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration, Abubakar Aseku, for allegedly receiving salaries from two additional government agencies while still employed by the NIS.
The arraignment took place before Justice Binta Dogonyaro of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a nine-count charge of abuse of office and corruption.
According to the ICPC, Aseku allegedly drew N4.2M 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.
Additionally, he is accused of receiving N13.4M in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) between 2018 and 2019 while employed by the Immigration Service.
Furthermore, as a Pay Officer with the NIS, he allegedly facilitated the payment of N4.7 million in salaries to seven individuals who were neither employees nor on the payroll of the NIS.
One of the charges against him reads: “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 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.”
Aseku pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting his counsel, Basil Hemba, to inform the court that his client had previously been granted bail by another FCT High Court in Maitama and requested that the existing bail terms be upheld.
Justice Dogonyaro granted the request, maintaining the earlier bail conditions.
The ICPC’s counsel, Michael Adesola, sought an adjournment to allow the prosecution to present its witnesses.
The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case to April 29, 2025, for further hearing.
