The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a former legislative assistant for orchestrating a fraudulent employment scheme that swindled victims out of N120.58 million.
Goni Yilkan was convicted on two counts of obtaining money through deceit and was sentenced without the possibility of a fine.
Presiding Judge Frances Mesiri, in her ruling delivered on Monday, affirmed that the prosecution had established the guilt of Mr. Yilkan beyond any reasonable doubt, while his co-accused, Mohammed Adamu, was acquitted.
According to a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, both defendants were charged in 2023 with offenses related to obtaining money by false pretenses.
The EFCC identified Mr. Yilkan as a former legislative aide from Yobe State but did not specify his exact duties.
The charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Hindatu Bello, who accused Mr. Yilkan, a banker by profession, of deceiving her between 2020 and 2021 by promising to secure employment opportunities in government bodies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Ms. Bello claimed she collected a total of N120,580,550 from 60 job applicants, funds which she allegedly transferred to Mr. Yilkan, yet none of the promised job placements were fulfilled.
The defendants faced prosecution under Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, which addresses obtaining property through fraudulent means. Conviction under Section 1(3) of the Act carries a penalty of seven to twenty years imprisonment without an option for a fine.
During the trial, the prosecution, led by Cosmas Ugwu, presented six witnesses and submitted documentary evidence to substantiate their case. The defense, represented by J.A. Oguche, called two witnesses, including Mr. Yilkan.
Judge Mesiri found the prosecution’s evidence compelling enough to convict Mr. Yilkan, while acquitting Mr. Adamu.
This sentencing highlights a disturbing pattern in Nigeria, where unscrupulous individuals exploit the vulnerability of job seekers by collecting fees for fictitious employment opportunities.
Given the country’s soaring unemployment rates, many desperate applicants have fallen prey to such scams.
Similar cases have been recorded over the years: in 2015, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) declared Grace Nwauzor, a federal civil servant, wanted for defrauding job seekers of N50 million.
In 2018, ICPC charged Ahmad Balarabe, a deputy director at the Federal Character Commission, for swindling N8.8 million from hopeful applicants.
More recently, in 2022, the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada sentenced a civil servant from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to seven years imprisonment for involvement in a similar employment fraud.
In 2025, the Cross River Local Government Service Commission arrested two individuals suspected of operating a fake job syndicate.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for vigilance and stricter enforcement to protect job seekers from fraudulent schemes.
0 Comments