Abuja Court Jails Ex-Legislative Aide
Last update: September 24, 2025
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EFCC secures jail for ex-Legislative aide over N120.5m job scam: eight years without option of fine.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of a former legislative aide and banker, Goni Yilkan, for a N120.5 million employment scam.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, sentenced Yilkan to eight years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
CBI News reports that he was found guilty on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
According to the EFCC, between 2020 and 2021, Yilkan deceived a petitioner, Mrs. Hindatu Bello, into believing he had the capacity to secure employment slots in agencies such as the FIRS, CBN, and NDDC.
On this false promise, Bello allegedly collected varying sums from over 60 desperate job seekers, totalling N120,580,550, and remitted them to Yilkan.
When the offers never materialised, Bello petitioned the EFCC.
One of the charges read in part: “That you, Mohammed Goni Yilkan, Mohammed Adamu and others at large… obtained the sum of N120,580,550 from Mrs. Hindatu Bello under the false pretence that you had the capacity to secure jobs in MDAs of the Federal Government, which pretence you knew to be false…”
During the trial, EFCC counsel Cosmas Ugwu called six witnesses and tendered documents. Defence lawyers, led by J.A. Oguche, presented two witnesses, including Yilkan himself.
In his ruling, Justice Messiri held that the EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. While Yilkan was convicted, his co-defendant, Mohammed Adamu, was discharged and acquitted.
The anti-graft agency said Yilkan’s conviction was a warning to fraudsters who prey on the desperation of job seekers.
“Yilkan collected over N120.5 million from desperate Nigerians on the pretext of securing them employment slots. He neither provided the jobs nor returned the funds,” the EFCC said.
