Nigeria Ex-Legislative Aide Jailed Eight Years for N120 Million Employment Scam

The Digest:

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has sentenced Goni Yilkan, a former legislative aide, to eight years' imprisonment for defrauding 60 jobseekers of N120 million through a fake employment scheme. The convict, who promised non-existent slots in FIRS, CBN, and NDDC, was found guilty of obtaining money by pretense in a case prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Key Points:

• Goni Yilkan was sentenced to 8 years without the option of a fine for N120m fraud.
• He promised job placements in FIRS, CBN, and NDDC between 2020-2021.
• The scheme involved 60 job seekers who paid N120,580,550 through an intermediary.
• Petitioner Hindatu Bello collected the money from victims and remitted it to Yilkan.
• The EFCC arraigned Yilkan and co-defendant Mohammed Adamu in October 2023.
• Co-defendant Mohammed Adamu was discharged and acquitted by the court.
• Judge F.E. Messiri ruled the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judgment highlights continuing judicial action against employment scams that exploit the desperation of Nigerian jobseekers in a tight labor market.

Sources: The Cable, EFCC