Gombe Job Scammers, Port-Harcourt
Oil Thieves Go to Jail
The Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Command has secured the conviction of the duo of Mohammed Abdullahi and Safiyanu Attah to six months and one year imprisonment respectively on separate charges of employment fraud.
They were prosecuted before Justice S.Y. Abubakar of Gombe State High Court for employment fraud, contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.
Abdullahi was convicted on July 15, 2021
but given the option of N20, 000 fine. The Judge took cognizance of the fact that he had already restituted the victim in full.
The convict posing as an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service tricked his victims into paying him Two Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N288, 500.00), after he told them that he had been given five job slots at the Service. It dawned on the victims that they had been scammed when they discovered that he was not an Immigration Officer.
Similarly, Safiyanu Attah was arraigned on 27 July, 2021 on one count charge of cheating punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code. The defendant in collusion with one Mohammed Sani Dabo (now a convict), obtained the sum of N2,500,000.00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Naira) from one Abubakar Bala Ibrahim by falsely representing to him that they could get him a job at National Research and Development Agency through a Director in Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
He pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him and was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50, 000.00) fine.
He was further ordered to fully restitute the victim of the total sum involved in the fraud.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
3 August, 2021
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Court Jails Four Oil Thieves in Port Harcourt
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Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Billah Musa; Abdulmuninu Sherif, Talle Umar and Aliyu Abdulazeez to two years imprisonment each, for illegal dealing in petroleum products.
They were jailed on Monday, August 2, 2021 after pleading “guilty” to one-count separate charge bordering on illegal dealing in petroleum products, consequent on their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the charge read: “That you Abdulmunini Sherif being the driver on board a Truck with registration number DAM 1134 XA, on about the 19th May, 2021 at Macoba in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court dealt in petroleum products to wit: loaded and transported about 45, 000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which was not of a good quality expected of such a product and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (18) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (17) (a) of the same Act”.
They all pleaded guilty to their one- count charge when it was read to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, K.W.Chukwuma Eneh and F.O Amama, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. Defense counsel, M.M. Suleiman and D.D. Ayuba did not oppose the prayers of the prosecution counsels.
Justice Mohammed found them guilty as charged, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, with an option of fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) each.
The Judge also ordered that the illegally refined products carried in the Trucks with registration numbers; DAM 114 XA, DAM 97 XA and KWA 80 XA be sounded and sold by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in conjunction with the Secretary of the EFCC or any officer authorized by the EFCC’s Zonal Commander and the proceeds paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account of the Federation while the Low Pour Fuel Oil tied in cellophane nylons in the Man Diesel Truck with registration number: Lagos FST 832 XM should be destroyed.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested at different dates and location by the Anti- Illegal Bunkering Patrol Teams of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Pathfinder, Abonema Wharf, Elelewon and Macoba in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were handed over to the EFCC and prosecuted.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
2 August, 2021
