Two Arraigned Over PEF Job Scam In Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today July 29, 2021 arraigned the duo of Salamatu Isah and Hussaini Umar Aliyu before Justice M.T.M Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and employment scam.

The defendants allegedly collected N 1,800,000 (One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) from the petitioner whom they had promised to help secure employment with the Petroleum Equalization Fund for a fee of N3million. Not only did they fail to deliver on their promise, they also refused to refund the complainant.

Count one of the charge reads, “that you Salamatu Isah, ‘F’ and Hussaini Umar Aliyu ‘M’ sometime in August, 2020 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire between yourselves to do an illegal act to wit; obtaining by false, pretence the sum of N 1,800,000.00 ( One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira ) only from one Muhammed Musa Shitu under the pretence that you can secure an employment with the Petroleum Equalization Fund ( PEF) within six weeks for him, a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

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The defendants, however pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecuting counsel Y.J Matiyak urged the court to fix a date for commencement of hearing but the defence counsel Shehu Bashir and A.A Abdulmalik urged the court to grant bail to the defendants.

Justice Aliyu, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of One million Naira each and a surety in like sum who must present evidence of tax payment in the last three years and be a relative of the defendants with reputable character.