Immigration officer jailed in Gombe

A Gombe State High Court has imposed a one-year prison sentence on Dabiet Gilbert, a Nigerian Immigration Service employee, for defrauding job seekers.

Gilbert was convicted of defrauding Akoh Accoustic of N800,000 by making false promises of a job placement with the Nigerian Correctional Services.

Gilbert’s charge read, “That you Dabiet Gilbert on or about 28th May 2021 in Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N800,000.00 from Akoh Daniel Accoustic by falsely representing that the said sum was for job placement with the Nigerian Correctional Services which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law.”

Upon arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he pleaded guilty to the one charge of fraud preferred against him.

A statement on Friday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said, ” Gilbert pleaded “guilty” to his one charge, prompting prosecution counsel, A.M Labaran to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, though the defence counsel, Yusuf Ali pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, Haruna pleaded “guilty” only to count-two of his charges, prompting prosecution counsel M.Ugbe to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

“Justice H.H Kereng afterwards convicted and sentenced Gilbert to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N60,000. ”

Oyewale revealed that Gilbert’s troubles began when his victim reported the fraud to the EFCC, after realising the job offer with the Nigerian Correctional Service was bogus and attempts to recover the money failed.