By Yusuf Olukokun
Justice Abdulhamid Yakubu gave a legal judgement in Gombe on Tuesday, May 13 2024, leading to the sentencing and conviction of two men on employment fraud and intent to defraud.
The duo, Abdulwahab Magaji and Salihu Musa were sentenced to nine years Imprisonment by the High Court in Gombe.
Abdulwahab Magaji was sentenced on the charge of employment scam while Musa was arraigned on the intent of fraud and clear conspiracy by Gombe Zonal Command of Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
“That you Abdulwahab Adamu Magaji and Adamu Usman between January and December 2023 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court obtained the aggregate sum of Seven Million and Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N7,800,000) only from one Hajia Hauwa Ali which you claimed was payment for the offer of an employment at Ministry of Health in Gombe, Gombe State and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law and Punishable under Section 322 of the same Law”, the charge against Magaji disclosed.
“That you Salihu Musa sometime in January 2023 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, with intent to defraud, made false documents, to wit: Bank of America ATM card with card No 4658656032040012, Australia New Zealand Bank Debit card, etc, which you knew to be false document and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 362 of the penal code law and punishable under Section 364 of the same law”, one of the court charges against Musa declared.
According to the press release from EFCC, “The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel S.E Okemini to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while defence counsel, I.S Gadah and U.M Mojaji pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the defendants were first-time offenders.”
However, Justice Yakubu convicted and sentenced Musa to six years imprisonment with an option to pay sixty thousand naira fine. The Justice also forfeited the crime tool of Musa, an IPhone 6s, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Magaji on the other hand, was sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option to pay thirty thousand naira fine. Additionally, Magaji has to start paying seven million and eight hundred thousand naira—the proceeds he got from his victim within three months time which starts from May, 2024.