Man jailed 37 years over N29m fraud in Yobe

The Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu has sentenced one Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years’ imprisonment over a N29 million fraud involving the purported supply of sorghum to customers in Potiskum town. According to the court, the convict had been serially defrauding victims through fake procurement deals for the supply of sorghum. The […]

The Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu has sentenced one Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years’ imprisonment over a N29 million fraud involving the purported supply of sorghum to customers in Potiskum town.

According to the court, the convict had been serially defrauding victims through fake procurement deals for the supply of sorghum.

The judgment was delivered over the weekend by Justice Lawu Lawan following prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.

Abubakar was found guilty on four counts bordering on obtaining by false pretence, forgery, and criminal misappropriation.

The court heard that the convict, who posed as a Procurement Officer of BUA Foods Plc, deceived his victims into parting with N29,175,000 for the supposed supply of 38.9 metric tonnes of white sorghum.

Prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, told the court that five witnesses and several documents were presented to establish how the defendant used forged agreements, receipts, and company documents to perpetrate the fraud.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty at the commencement of the trial.

In his judgment, Justice Lawu Lawan handed down varying prison terms across the four counts, with options of fines ranging from N5,000 to N100,000.

The court also ordered the convict to refund the sum of N2.2 million to the victims or face an additional 10-year prison term.

According to the court’s findings, the fraud began in 2023 in Potiskum, when the convict falsely claimed affiliation with BUA Foods Plc and issued fake documents to support the fraudulent transaction.

The victims paid the agreed sums but never received the goods as stipulated.

The EFCC stated that the conviction underscores its ongoing efforts to curb procurement fraud and protect businesses from financial crimes across the region.