EFCC secures one year conviction for job scammer

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday secured the conviction of one Aminu Abubakar Sadiq at the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on a one-count charge bordering on inducement to the tune of N864,000.

Acting Spokesman to the EFCC, Tony Orilade, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said Sadiq was accused of conning his victim into parting with the said amount in exchange of helping the son secure an employment with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).“At his trial, Sadiq did not waste the time of the court, as he pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge,” Orilade said.

Prosecuting counsel, Arthur Eniang Offiong, thus prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.Justice A. B. Kumaliya, while delivering his judgment, said: “The accused having pleaded guilty to the charge is hereby convicted. The court also sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine.

In a related development, the EFCC also arraigned one Fannaram Adam before Justice Fadawu Umar of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on a one-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N949,000.Adam was accused of dishonestly converting the said sum to her personal use, which the petitioner entrusted her with.

Adam pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her.Counsel for the prosecution, Halima Shehu, prayed the court for a trial date.Justice Umar, thereafter, adjourned to January 10, 2019 for commencement of trial, and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, has congratulated the pioneer Chairman of the commission, Nuhu Ribadu, for winning the most coveted Global Lifetime Award for Anti-Corruption.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Orilade. While describing the award as a very well-deserved one, Magu said: “It is delightful that the world has not forgotten your pioneering efforts in establishing the culture of accountability, especially in Africa.
“Your trail-blazing exploits as pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was a turning point in smashing the global stereotype of Africa as a corrupt continent.

“For us at the EFCC, this award is both a source of personal joy, as it is an affirmation of the work of the agency, which you led between 2003 and 2007, as well as an inspiration to continue in your footsteps. “With this honour, we have no doubt that your place in the league of respected icons of anti-corruption is fully cemented.”