Court Frees Abba Moro Over 2014 NIS Recruitment Exercise

The former Minister of Interior, Senator Abba Moro, has been discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Abuja over fraud charges in the 2014 Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise.

Naija News recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  had accused Moro and two others of conspiracy, procurement fraud and money laundering during the NIS recruitment exercise.

The anti-graft agency claimed that the defendants’ actions led to tragedy witnessed during the exercise, with over 14 deaths caused by a stampede in some states.

Others dragged to court by the EFCC are former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia and an ex-director in the ministry, Felix Alayebami.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that the EFCC failed to establish the allegation of fraud against the defendants.

Justice Dimgba dismissed the allegation of abuse of office against Moro over inadequate arrangement and safeguards for the exercise after 667, 000 applicants paid ₦1, 000 each.

He said the NIS Comptroller General testified that there was inadequate funding for the exercise, while also failing to directly take charge of the exercise.

Evaluating the submissions of the prosecution, Justice Dimgba said a firm, Drexel’s proposal to conduct an e-recruitment was in national security interest due to allegations of nepotism and job racketeering in the previous exercises.

He said the prosecution failed to show that the failure to advertise the contract gave undue advantage to the company, Drexel.

However, the judge convicted the former perm-sec for breaching the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and not ensuring that the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) was obtained in relation to the contract for the recruitment exercise.

Justice Dimgba adjourned sentencing to April 27 in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.