Man bags 37 years jail term for N29m fraud in Yobe

The conviction and sentencing of Sadiq Abubakar by the Yobe State High Court serve as a stern reminder of the consequences of financial crimes in Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once again demonstrated its commitment to prosecuting individuals who engage in fraudulent activities, ensuring that justice is served.

Abubakar's elaborate scheme, which involved impersonating a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc and defrauding victims of over N29 million under the guise of supplying white sorghum, highlights the deceptive tactics employed by fraudsters. The court's decision to impose a cumulative sentence of 37 years, coupled with the restitution order, sends a strong message to potential offenders.

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That you, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar, sometime in 2023, at Potiskum, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N29,175,000 from Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited under the pretence that the said amount represented payment for the supply of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum when you represented yourself as a Procurement Officer of BUA Food Plc, which you knew to be false.

This case, prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, underscores the importance of due diligence and vigilance in business transactions. The conviction reinforces the anti-graft agency's ongoing efforts to rid the country of economic crimes and protect citizens from financial exploitation. The inclusion of a similar case from Ikeja, where another individual received a 42-year sentence for internet fraud, further emphasizes the judiciary's firm stance against financial malfeasance.

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That you did fraudulently make false documents purportedly issued by BUA Food Plc, knowing them to be forged, and presented them to the victims.