BREAKING: Court Jails Three Fraudsters for Employment Fraud (Photos)

Three individuals in Gombe have been convicted for their involvement in employment fraud. Ibrahim Abdullahi and Umar Usman received jail sentences for obtaining N682,847 under false pretenses by misusing Polaris ATM cards.

The trio’s scheme involved promising victims fictitious job opportunities and using their bank details to secure loans without consent, highlighting the consequences of employment fraud.

Justice J.A Kereng of the Gombe State High Court, sitting in Gombe, delivered a verdict on Monday, April 8, 2024, sentencing Ibrahim Abdullahi, Umar Usman, and Mohammed Sala Soja for their involvement in employment fraud.

VerseNews reports that the trio was found guilty of obtaining N682,847 under false pretenses.

Abdullahi and Usman were arraigned separately on three-count charges of cheating and employment scam by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges against them revolved around the unauthorized use of Polaris ATM cards to secure loans, amounting to N682,847, without the consent of the cardholders.

Upon their arraignment, both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against them. Subsequently, the prosecuting counsel, A.B Kware, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Conversely, the defense counsel, R.A. Anthony, appealed for leniency, citing the defendants’ remorsefulness as first-time offenders.

In his ruling, Justice Kereng sentenced Abdullahi to one year in prison or a fine of N50,000, while Usman received a two-year jail term or a similar fine. The convictions stemmed from the defendants’ involvement in a scheme wherein they lured victims with fictitious job opportunities at a private company in Gombe State.

The victims were instructed to open accounts with Polaris Bank, surrendering their ATM cards to the defendants, who subsequently obtained unauthorized loans using these cards.

Despite efforts to distance themselves from the fraudulent transactions, the victims found themselves burdened with outstanding loans totaling N682,847.

Following unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter with Polaris Bank, the victims reported the incident to the EFCC, leading to the arrest and prosecution of Abdullahi, Usman, and Soja. This verdict underscores the severity of employment fraud and serves as a warning against similar fraudulent activities.