A Gombe man is facing trial after he allegedly collected N3.5 million from a desperate job seeker, promising to secure him a position with the Federal Inland Revenue Service — a promise prosecutors say was a lie.
Dalhatu Yahaya was arraigned before Justice A.M. Yakubu of Gombe High Court 2 on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Gombe Zonal Directorate, on two counts of intent to defraud.
According to one of the charges, Yahaya, sometime in 2025, induced one Abubakar Shuaibu Yakubu to part with Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira as payment to facilitate his employment with the FIRS — a representation prosecutors allege he knew to be false. The offence is contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
Yahaya pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Prosecution counsel J.D. Tortema asked the court for a trial date and the defendant’s remand in a correctional centre. However, defence counsel Yusuf A. Ali informed the court that a bail application had already been filed.
Justice Yakubu granted bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety in the same amount. The surety must own landed property worth N5 million within Gombe, be a resident of good standing, and produce the original title documents along with a valid identity card and international passport — all subject to verification by the court registrar.
The case was adjourned to June 22, 2026 for commencement of trial. Yahaya is to remain in Gombe Correctional Service until his bail conditions are met.
