Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja has convicted a former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia over the tragic immigration recruitment exercise in 2014, in which at least 20 young job seekers lost their lives.
The convict was prosecuted alongside Senator Abba Moro, who was the minister for interior at the time but was absolved of criminal liability by the judge.
Other defendants were a Deputy Director in the Ministry, F. O Alayebami; one Mahmood Ahmadu (at large), and the contracting firm given the recruitment job, Drexel Tech Nigeria Ltd.
Justice Dimgba after pronouncing Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia guilty, however deferred sentencing to April 27.
The former Permanent Secretary was convicted on count four of the charge, which the court said carries a maximum jail term of five years without an option of a fine.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Abba Moro, and others on an 11-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, procurement fraud and money laundering.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY 