A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, has convicted Martins Ugwu for impersonating his friend, George Daniel Davidson, and using Davidson’s certificate to secure employment at the Federal Ministry of Health.
In a statement on Tuesday, Demola Bakare, spokesperson for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), said the commission filed a seven-count charge against Ugwu in February 2016.
Bakare explained that Ugwu was charged with making a false statement to the chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, which enabled him to secure employment in 2006.
Over a period of 10 years, Ugwu falsely claimed to be a qualified medical doctor, earning N17.2 million in salaries and allowances under this guise.
The offence contravenes Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Bakare added that Ugwu used the forged documents to obtain a staff identity card, apply for annual leave, and enrol in a postgraduate programme in epidemiology, which could have led to him earning a master’s degree.
During the sentencing hearing, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, counsel for the ICPC, urged the court to order Ugwu to repay the N17.2 million he had fraudulently received.
Abubakar Idris Kutigi, the presiding judge, condemned Ugwu’s actions, highlighting the increasing danger posed by unqualified individuals masquerading as medical professionals in the country.
The judge stated that the sentence was necessary to deter others from engaging in similar fraudulent acts.
Ugwu was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each of the seven charges, to run consecutively, amounting to a total of three and a half years. Kutigi also ordered Ugwu to refund the N17.2 million he had earned illegally.
The court further ruled that should Ugwu fail to comply with the restitution order, he would serve an additional one-year prison term.
