The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned an Assistant Superintendent of Immigration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Abubakar Aseku, over allegations of receiving salaries from multiple government agencies while still employed by the NIS.
Aseku appeared before Justice Binta Dogonyaro of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, on a nine-count charge related to abuse of office and corruption.
According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, Aseku fraudulently received a total of N22.3 million in salaries from two additional government agencies while also facilitating payments to ghost workers.
In 2015, while serving as a schoolteacher, he allegedly collected N4.2 million from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology despite being an active NIS officer.
One of the charges stated that between October 2018 and October 2019, Aseku received N13.4 million in salaries from the Department of Petroleum Resources while concurrently employed by the NIS, violating Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Additionally, in his role as an NIS Pay Officer, Aseku allegedly facilitated the payment of N4.7 million in salaries to seven individuals who were neither employees of the NIS nor on its payroll.
The ICPC accused him of abusing his office for personal gain at the expense of public funds. Aseku pleaded not guilty to all charges. His counsel, Basil Hemba, requested that the court uphold the bail conditions granted by another FCT High Court in Maitama.
Justice Dogonyaro maintained the existing bail terms and adjourned the case to April 29, 2025, for further hearing.