Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Justice Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu has convicted and sentenced one Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to an effective 37 years imprisonment for a procurement fraud that involved forging documents of BUA Foods Plc to obtain N29,175,000 from unsuspecting victims. The defendant was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery, and using forged documents as genuine. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, April 23, 2026, marks the conclusion of a trial that exposed a carefully orchestrated scheme targeting businessmen in Potiskum, Yobe State.
According to the charge sheet, Abubakar obtained the sum of N29,175,000 from Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi, and Afreebak Nigeria Limited under the pretence that the amount was payment for the supply of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum. He falsely represented himself as a Procurement Officer of BUA Foods Plc, a claim he knew to be entirely false. Count one of the charge, which falls under Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, carries punishment under Section 1(3) of the same Act. The prosecution, led by Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, presented five witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits, including forged supply agreements and fake official statements purportedly issued by BUA Foods Plc.
Count three of the charge detailed the forgery. It alleged that Abubakar fraudulently made false documents, including a BUA Foods Plc supply agreement dated December 10, 2024, in the name of Afreebak Nigeria Limited; an official statement purported to emanate from BUA Foods Plc dated October 7, 2014; and an acknowledgment of receipt of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum, also purportedly from BUA Foods Plc. Knowing all these documents to be forged, he handed them to his victims, an offence contrary to Section 364 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Yobe State, punishable under Section 366.
The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty, forcing the EFCC to proceed to a full trial. Over the course of the proceedings, the prosecution established that Abubakar approached the petitioners in Potiskum, introduced himself as a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc, and issued fake receipts to them for the purchase of sorghum. Convinced by the forged documents, the victims paid him the sum of N29,175,000. When the promised supply never materialised and Abubakar became evasive, the victims reported the matter to the EFCC, leading to his arrest.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lawan convicted Abubakar on all four counts. On count one, the judge sentenced him to ten years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000. On count two, he was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N5,000. Count three attracted eight years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000, while count four brought a sentence of seven years imprisonment or a fine of N60,000. Crucially, the judge also ordered the convict to pay the sum of N29,175,000 to the petitioner, failing which he would serve an additional ten years imprisonment. The cumulative effect of the sentences, including the default term, amounts to an effective 37 years behind bars.
The case highlights the growing sophistication of procurement fraud in Nigeria, where criminals exploit the reputation of well-known companies to lure victims. BUA Foods Plc, a major Nigerian food conglomerate, has no record of engaging Abubakar as a procurement officer. The forged documents, which included a supply agreement and an acknowledgment of receipt, were meticulously fabricated to appear authentic. The EFCC’s investigation uncovered that Abubakar had no connection whatsoever with the company, and the entire transaction was a carefully laid trap.
Following the conviction, the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to prosecuting economic and financial crimes, particularly those that undermine public trust in legitimate business transactions. The Commission urged members of the public to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to represent a corporate entity before making payments, no matter how convincing the documentation may appear.
Abubakar’s 37-year sentence is one of the longest handed down by the Yobe State High Court for a fraud case in recent memory. The judgment is expected to serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate similar schemes. The convict has the right to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal, but for now, he remains in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, beginning what may be the rest of his life behind bars.
The petitioners, who lost nearly N30 million to Abubakar’s deception, have expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling. The order to repay the full sum, coupled with the long prison term, offers them some measure of justice, though the financial loss may never be fully recovered. The EFCC has assured the public that it will continue to track down fraudsters who prey on innocent citizens and will ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.
As the convict begins his long sentence, the case of Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar stands as a cautionary tale: no matter how clever the forgery, the long arm of the law eventually catches up with those who choose deceit over honest enterprise.
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