The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, September 22, 2025, secured the conviction of former legislative aide and banker, Mr. Goni Yilkan, for defrauding job seekers of N120.5 million.
Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, found Yilkan guilty on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and sentenced him to eight years in prison without an option of fine.
Yilkan, a native of Nguru, Yobe State, was arraigned alongside Mohammed Adamu in October 2023 after an EFCC investigation into a petition alleging fraud. The petitioner claimed that between 2020 and 2021, Yilkan falsely promised to secure job placements for candidates in government agencies including the FIRS, CBN, and NDDC.
Acting on these assurances, the petitioner collected contributions from over 60 job seekers, totaling N120,580,550, which she handed over to Yilkan. However, the promised employment slots never materialized, and the money was not refunded, prompting the complaint to the EFCC.
During the trial, EFCC counsel Cosmas Ugwu presented six witnesses and several documents as evidence, while the defence, led by J.A. Oguche, called two witnesses, including Yilkan.
Justice Messiri ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Yilkan but acquitting Adamu of all charges.
Yilkan will now serve eight years in prison for orchestrating the fraudulent scheme that exploited desperate job seekers.
