QATAR JOB SCAM ENDS IN T£ARS AS COURT JAILS WOMAN OVER N3.5 MILLION FRAUD
QATAR JOB SCAM ENDS IN TEARS AS COURT JAILS WOMAN OVER N3.5 MILLION FRAUD
The dream of securing a lucrative job in Qatar turned into a costly nightmare for one Nigerian after a Borno State High Court sent a woman to prison for defrauding her victim of N3.5 million under the guise of arranging overseas employment.
Justice B.T. Zannah of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri convicted Yagana Musa Mohammed after she admitted to dishonestly collecting and converting N3.5 million belonging to Mohammed Tukur Yaji.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the case, told the court that the convict collected the money in 2025 with bold assurances that she would secure a job for the victim in the State of Qatar. But the promise turned out to be nothing more than an elaborate deception.
Instead of delivering the overseas job, the convict allegedly pocketed the money, leaving the victim stranded and out of millions of naira.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Mohammed pleaded guilty when the amended one-count charge of criminal misappropriation was read before the court.
Prosecution counsel, A.D. Abdulmalik, urged the court to convict and sentence her, while defence counsel, H.A. Aliyu, appealed for mercy, arguing that the defendant was remorseful and had refunded the victim.
Justice Zannah subsequently sentenced Mohammed to six months’ imprisonment, with an option of paying a N50,000 fine.
The conviction serves as another warning to fraudsters exploiting desperate job seekers with fake promises of employment abroad. It also highlights the growing danger of overseas job scams that continue to leave unsuspecting victims counting huge financial losses.
The EFCC urged Nigerians to exercise caution and thoroughly verify employment offers, especially those requiring large upfront payments, to avoid falling prey to fraudulent recruiters.
