Court convicts two for impersonating EFCC officers, sets sentencing date

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has convicted two men, Haruna Mamuda and Sadiq Umar, for impersonating Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers. The court scheduled their sentencing for July 22.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to five charges, including criminal conspiracy, impersonation, and unlawful representation. They were accused of using their assumed identities to defraud the public in March. The prosecution stated that the defendants, along with a third individual facing separate charges, conspired to falsely present themselves as EFCC operatives.

The prosecution urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, noting that one defendant was a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army and that both faced separate charges related to alleged terrorism financing and kidnapping. Lawyers for the defendants appealed for leniency, citing remorse, cooperation, and family responsibilities. The judge ordered the convicted men to remain in EFCC custody pending sentencing.

This conviction occurred on the same day another FCT High Court adjourned the trial of two other men accused of impersonating an EFCC officer and defrauding individuals of $700,000. These cases underscore the persistent issue of individuals falsely representing themselves as law enforcement officials for fraudulent purposes.

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My lord, the first defendant is a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army. His sentence will serve as a deterrent to society at large.