Court awards fraudster 37 years prison sentence for N29m BUA…

The Yobe State High Court in Damaturu has sentenced Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding victims of $29.175 million in a fake procurement deal.

Justice Lawu Lawan handed down the sentence on Thursday, April 23, 2026, after the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured the conviction.

Abubakar was arraigned on four counts of obtaining false documents, embezzlement, forgery and using forged documents as genuine. He pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial.

According to the EFCC, Abubakar appeared as the Procurement Officer of BUA Foods PLC in 2023 in Potiskum.

He collected N29,175,000 from Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited, claiming that the sum was payment for the supply of 38.9 tonnes of white sorghum.

To support the project, it entered into a supply agreement with BUA Foods dated 10 December 2024, an official declaration dated 7 October 2014 and a confirmation of receipt of 38.9 tonnes of white sorghum, all purportedly from BUA Foods Plc. He issued the fake documents to the petitioners.

Prosecution lawyer Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called five witnesses and presented several documents during the trial.

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*Sentence breakdown:*
– *Count 1 – Obtaining by false pretense*: N100,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment.
– *Count 2*: N5,000 fine or 2 years imprisonment.
– *Count 3 – Forgery*: N100,000 fine or 8 years imprisonment.
– *Count 4 – Using Forged Documents*: N60,000 fine or 7 years imprisonment.

Justice Lawan also ordered Abubakar to repay N29,175,000 to the petitioners or serve another 10 years.

In total, the convicted person faces 37 years in prison if he does not pay the fines and restitution.

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