A Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu has sentenced Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years’ imprisonment for his role in a N29.17 million procurement fraud.
Justice Lawu Lawan delivered the judgment on Thursday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed the development in a statement issued on its official Facebook page on Thursday.
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency had arraigned the convict on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery, and the use of forged documents.
According to the charge sheet, Abubakar fraudulently obtained N29,175,000 from his victims under the guise of supplying white sorghum.
Count one of the charge read, “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.”
Another count stated, “That you did fraudulently make false documents purportedly issued by BUA Food Plc, knowing them to be forged, and presented them to the victims.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to a full trial.
During the trial, prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, presented five witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted in evidence.
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Delivering judgment, Justice Lawan sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment on count one with an option of a N100,000 fine.
On count two, the court imposed a two-year jail term or a N5,000 fine. For count three, the convict was sentenced to eight years imprisonment or a N100,000 fine, while count four attracted seven years imprisonment or a N60,000 fine.
The court further ordered the convict to refund the sum of N29,175,000 to the victims or serve an additional 10-year prison term.
The commission said the fraud began when the convict approached the victims and falsely presented himself as a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc.
It added that he issued fake receipts for the supposed supply of sorghum and collected the money.
On Wednesday, an Ikeja Special Offences Court convicted and sentenced Ndidi Joshua Bobby to 42 years’ imprisonment for internet fraud involving false identity claims and obtaining money under false pretence.
Bobby’s conviction followed his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Okotie-Eboh.
He was convicted on charges bordering on stealing and possession of fraudulent documents involving €80,000.
