N120m Employment Scam Lands Ex-Legislative Aid In Jail

An ex-legislative aid and banker, has bagged 8 years in jail after being indicted of running an employment scam.

Mr Goni Yilkan, was jailed for using an employment scam to defraud job seekers of N120.5m, the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said.

The commission, in a statement yesterday, stated that Yilkan’s conviction by Justice F. E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, followed a five-year trial.

Yilkan, a native of Nguru, Yobe State, was arraigned in October 2023 alongside one Mohammed Adamu following a petition by Hajiya Hindatu Bello over their involvement in the employment scam.

The commission said, between 2020 and 2021, the convict deceived Bello into believing he could secure lucrative jobs in the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Niger Delta Development Commission.

He succeeded in obtaining money from over 60 desperate job seekers and remitted N120,580,550 to Yilkan.

The EFCC was however petitioned when the promised jobs could not materialise.

The EFCC said the prosecution, led by Cosmas Ugwu, called six witnesses and tendered documents, while the defence, led by J. A. Oguche, called two witnesses, including Yilkan himself.

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In his judgment, Justice Messiri ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, acquitted Adamu, but convicted Yilkan.

The court sentenced him to eight years in prison without an option of fine after rejecting his plea for leniency. The EFCC added that the convict had not refunded his victims and still held on to the illicit funds.

“The conviction brings to an end a five-year case of deceit and betrayal of trust,” the Ilorin Zonal Command stated.