A retired Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dare Adebowale Oladapo, has been convicted for falsifying his age and illegally earning salaries after his due retirement.
Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Tuesday sentenced Oladapo to two years imprisonment for altering his date of birth to remain in service beyond his statutory retirement age.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a statement signed by its Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, said Oladapo manipulated his birth records at the National Population Commission and filed a false affidavit to change his date of birth from November 11, 1959, to November 11, 1964.
The fraudulent act enabled him to remain in service for four extra months and earn ₦1,233,258.95 in unmerited salaries and allowances between December 2019 and April 2020.
Prosecution counsel, Kalu Ugbo and Zainab Moshood, told the court that Oladapo’s action amounted to corruption and abuse of public office, contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act 2000.
Although he was discharged on one of the three counts, Justice Yusuf found him guilty on two counts of falsification of records and corrupt enrichment.
He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of ₦100,000 fine on each count, and ordered to refund the illegal earnings to the Federal Government.
The convict has reportedly paid the ₦200,000 fine and refunded the full ₦1.23 million to the ICPC recovery account.
The case originated from a petition by Ilorin-based lawyer, F. F. Ikebundu of Ayo Ajomole & Co.
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