The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned two persons on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and employment scam.
Salamatu Isah and Hussaini Umar Aliyu, were yesterday, 29 July, brought before Justice M.T.M Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court.
TheFact Nigeria reports that the defendants allegedly collected N 1,800,000 (One Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from the petitioner whom they had promised to help secure employment with the Petroleum Equalization Fund, PEF, for a fee of N3million. Not only did they fail to deliver on their promise, they also refused to refund the complainant.
It was gathered that the defendants, sometime in August, 2020, in Kaduna, conspired and obtained the said sum from one Muhammed Musa Shitu under the pretence that they could secure an employment for him with the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) within six weeks, an act contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The defendants, however pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecuting counsel Y.J Matiyak urged the court to fix a date for commencement of hearing but the defence counsel Shehu Bashir and A.A Abdulmalik urged the court to grant bail to the defendants.
Justice Aliyu granted bail to the defendants in the sum of One million Naira each and a surety in like sum who must present evidence of tax payment in the last three years and be a relative of the defendants with reputable character.
