A Gombe State Federal High Court has sentenced three public officials to seven years in prison each for their involvement in a N1.64 million employment fraud.
Justice T.G Ringing delivered the verdict on November 26, 2024, finding the officials guilty of employment fraud.
According to reports from Naijawebinfo, the officials, Yusuf AbdulKarim Bature and Musa Philip, were charged with two counts of obtaining by false pretences and intent to defraud, while Nasiru Mohammed was charged with one count of obtaining by false pretences by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charges against the officials alleged that they fraudulently obtained large sums of money from unsuspecting victims, claiming to offer them employment opportunities. Specifically, Bature and Philip were accused of obtaining N970,000 from Asabe Hamed, while Mohammed was accused of obtaining N670,000 from Abdul Rahman Abubakar and Akwalo Adamu.
During their arraignment, the officials pleaded guilty to their respective charges. The prosecution counsel, Tortema Joshua, requested that the court convict and sentence the officials accordingly, while the defence counsels, Babangida Mohammed and K.K. Jomoh, pleaded for mercy, citing the officials’ first-time offenders and remorseful nature.
In his ruling, Justice Ringing convicted and sentenced Bature, Philip, and Mohammed to seven years in prison each or a fine of N50,000 each. The judge also ordered the officials to pay restitution of N1.64 million to the victims and sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour in the future.
The officials’ journey to prison began in February 2024, when their victims reported that they had been defrauded of large sums of money under false pretences. The officials had promised to secure them employment opportunities but failed to deliver, leaving the victims with significant financial losses.
