A Excessive Courtroom of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced Mr. Martins Ugwu to 4 years and two months imprisonment for making false statements to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Fee, by way of which he secured employment within the Federal Ministry of Well being in 2006.
The sentencing was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, who had earlier convicted Ugwu in a judgment delivered on October 3, 2024.
Ugwu was sued almost ten years in the past in go well with quantity CR/273/2015 by the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC), represented by counsel Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.
Info of the Trial
Ugwu was accused of utilizing the title of a sure Dr. George Daniel Davidson to realize employment within the Federal Civil Service (FCS).
- In February 2016, the ICPC filed a 7-count cost towards Ugwu earlier than Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, alleging he had contravened Part 25 (1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000, punishable underneath Part 25 (1)(b) of the identical Act.
- He was accused of drawing salaries and allowances totalling N17.2 million between 2006 and 2016 after working for about ten years as a medical physician on the Federal Ministry of Well being utilizing pretend paperwork, thereby endangering sufferers’ lives.
“Ugwu additional allegedly used the pretend paperwork to acquire a workers identification card bearing the title of Dr. George Daniel Davidson, apply for annual go away, and enrol in a postgraduate coaching program which might have conferred on him a Grasp’s diploma within the discipline of Epidemiology Observe,” the ICPC stated in a press release.
Ugwu additionally confronted different authorized issues in numerous courts.
On October 3, 2024, Justice Kutigi convicted Ugwu (in absentia) on the ICPC fees and adjourned sentencing to November 26, 2024.
What Transpired in Courtroom
- On the resumed listening to, Ugwu pleaded with the courtroom to mood justice with mercy, claiming he’s a father of three youngsters and had by no means been convicted earlier than.
- He alleged there was a conspiracy to maintain him in perpetual incarceration, citing different pending fees in numerous courts.
- In response, ICPC counsel Akponimisingha argued that the convict didn’t deserve mercy, stating he had proven no regret for his actions.
“He’s a serial offender,” Akponimisingha stated, referencing the fees Ugwu faces in Akure and a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja for alleged impersonation and defamation.
What the Choose Stated
The decide said that sentencing would align with the ICPC Act, which stipulates a tremendous, imprisonment for not lower than two years, or each.
- He emphasised that the aim of sentencing could possibly be each retributive and deterrent, noting that the menace of quack medical doctors should be addressed by the courts.
- The decide held that the defendant had taken benefit of the Federal Ministry of Well being’s procedures, dealing with medical situations he was not certified to deal with, thereby endangering lives.
“He doesn’t seem to point out any signal of regret,” the decide remarked.
- The decide additional famous that medical practitioners bear rigorous coaching to qualify, and anybody falsifying medical credentials should face justice to discourage others. He additionally highlighted that Ugwu was going through trials in three different courts.
- Subsequently, the courtroom sentenced Ugwu to 4 years and two months imprisonment.
The decide additionally ordered him to refund N17.2 million, which he obtained as salaries throughout his fraudulent service.
“In default of cost, he’s to serve a further one 12 months of imprisonment,” the decide dominated, directing his remand on the Akure Correctional Centre, the place he’s additionally going through one other case.
Extra Insights: The ICPC is among the federal authorities businesses chargeable for combating monetary crimes.
It depends on litigation to show its allegations, leaving the courts to find out the authenticity of the proof offered by each the ICPC and the protection.
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