EFCC Arraigns Farmer For N2m Employment Scam

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 arraigned one Zakari Muhammad before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court on a 3 counts charge bordering on employment scam. 

 The defendant allegedly collected the sum of N 2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) from a victim with promise to  secure him a job with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund ( PEF).

Investigation revealed that the monies were paid in two tranches into the suspects account. He neither facilitated the job offer nor refund the victim.

 The charge reads, “that Zakari Muhammad sometime in September, 2021 in Kaduna within the judicial division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N 2,000,000 ( Two Million Naira) only from one Sa'idu Bashir Amin when you presented yourself to him that you are capable of securing a job for him with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund  ( PEF) which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”. 

 He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, M.U Gadaka urged the court to fix a date for commencement of hearing while the defence counsel, Y.M Rabiu urged the court to grant bail to his client.

 Justice Bello granted the defendant bail in the sum of One Million Naira and a surety in like sum, who must be a Civil Servant on Grade 14, residing within the jurisdiction of the court and own a landed property covered by a Certificate of Occupancy. 

The case has been adjourned tIll July, 12, 2023 for commencement of trial.