A High Court in Damaturu has handed down a crushing 37-year prison sentence to Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar for orchestrating a ₦29 million procurement scam involving the fraudulent supply of sorghum.
Justice Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court delivered the verdict after finding the defendant guilty on four counts, including obtaining by false pretence, forgery, and criminal misappropriation, following prosecution by the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.
The court heard how the convict impersonated a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc to deceive unsuspecting victims into paying ₦29.17 million for the supply of 38.9 metric tonnes of white sorghum that never existed.
Prosecuting counsel, Muktar Ali Ahmed, presented five witnesses alongside damning documentary evidence, including forged agreements and receipts, which exposed the elaborate scam.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the convict to refund the full amount of ₦29.175 million or face an extra 10-year jail term.
The EFCC described the conviction as a strong warning to fraudsters, reaffirming its commitment to cracking down on procurement scams and safeguarding businesses across the region.
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