From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded fresh milestones in its ongoing fight against economic and financial crimes across the country, with a conviction in Abuja and a separate arraignment in Maiduguri.
In Abuja, the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Commission on Monday, September 22, secured the conviction and sentencing of a former legislative aide and banker, Mr Goni Yilkan, to eight years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, found Yilkan guilty of a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N120.5 million.
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Yilkan, a native of Nguru, Yobe State, was said to have deceived a petitioner, Mrs Hindatu Bello, between 2020 and 2021 into believing that he could secure employment slots in agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Acting on this, Bello reportedly collected money from over 60 jobseekers, amounting to N120,580,550, which she remitted to Yilkan.
The court held that the prosecution, led by EFCC counsel Cosmas Ugwu, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt after presenting six witnesses and documentary evidence.
While Yilkan was convicted, his co-defendant, Mohammed Adamu, was discharged and acquitted.
Justice Messiri ruled that Yilkan’s actions amounted to advance fee fraud under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
In a separate development, the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, arraigned Ali Mohammed before Justice Mohammed Maina of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and criminal misappropriation of N9 million.
According to the charges, Mohammed allegedly defrauded one Nuhu Alfa in September 2022 by claiming to be investing the funds into the purchase and supply of petroleum products through a bank account domiciled with First Bank.
Investigations, however, revealed that the claim was false.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, S.O. Saka, applied for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant which Justice Maina granted, ordered Mohammed’s remand at the Maiduguri Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to Wednesday, September 24, 2025, for commencement of trial.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, reiterated the anti-graft agency’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from fraudulent schemes and bringing perpetrators of economic crimes to justice.
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