By Charles Chijiok
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has moved to arraign an official of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Anita Anurika Odom, over alleged forgery of academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates reportedly used to secure employment in the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).
According to findings by SaharaReporters, the anti-graft agency has approached the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Nyanya, Abuja, requesting a date for Odom’s formal arraignment over the allegations.
Sources within the commission disclosed that the embattled civil servant had allegedly made several attempts to stop the prosecution, including filing a civil suit before a magistrate court to restrain the ICPC from investigating and prosecuting her.
“She has been pulling every string possible to stop the commission from arraigning her in court. She earlier filed a civil suit at the magistrate court, accusing the ICPC of harassing her and to stop her ongoing probe, but she couldn’t prove the allegation in court, and the commission also provided evidence against her to the magistrate, and the matter was done with,” a source familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters.
The development follows earlier reports that Odom allegedly evaded arrest by ICPC operatives in Owerri, Imo State, after reportedly ignoring several invitations from investigators.
Another source claimed that influential security figures, including retired and serving officers, had allegedly intervened in an effort to halt the planned prosecution.
“The woman is well-connected. She has been using some senior and retired police officers and ICPC officials to try to stop her arraignment in court,” the source alleged.
“She knows that she’ll be going to jail once arraigned in court because the commission has all evidence of her forgeries, but we have applied to Justice Ashafa at the FCT High Court for a date for hearing and her arraignment.”
The ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, confirmed that the case against Odom remains active and dismissed suggestions that it had been abandoned.
“The matter was not swept under the carpet, it’s ongoing. The commission is waiting for the court to give a date for proper arraignment. We’re prosecuting her (Mrs Odom),” Odey said.
“The prosecution is still on, and we have a watertight case. The case is at Court 23, before Justice Ashafa at the FCT High Court, Nyanya.
The commission awaits a date for arraignment from the court.”
Court documents cited in the report indicated that Odom, a Level 13 officer with AGIS, allegedly forged a University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) degree certificate and an NYSC discharge certificate which she allegedly presented during her employment process with the FCTA in 2009.
The ICPC reportedly stated that the University of Port Harcourt confirmed in August 2023 that Odom had once been a student of the institution but did not graduate from the Department of Political and Administrative Studies as claimed.
Investigators also alleged that the NYSC denied issuing the discharge certificate she allegedly submitted.
In December 2025, the commission filed a four-count charge against her in suit number CR/717/2025, accusing her of forgery and use of false documents, offences punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act.
Employment records reportedly showed that Odom was employed by the FCTA on August 17, 2009, as an Administrative Officer II and later rose to the rank of Assistant Chief Administrative Officer.
The case is expected to generate wider scrutiny within the FCTA and other public institutions over employment verification procedures, particularly amid growing concerns about forged credentials in the civil service.
The allegations may also intensify pressure on anti-corruption agencies to pursue high-profile forgery and employment fraud cases without political interference, especially where influential individuals are allegedly involved.
SaharaReporters further alleged that Odom is related by marriage to former Minister of State for the FCT, Chuka Odom, and claimed that her employment into AGIS was facilitated despite questions surrounding her academic qualifications.
