High Court Jails Fraudster 37 Years For N29m Procurement Fraud In Damaturu

Justice Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court, Damaturu on Thursday 23, April 2026 convicted and sentenced one Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar to 37 years imprisonment.

The defendant was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a four- count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery and used forged documents as genuine to the tune of N29,175,000. (Twenty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira).

Count one reads: “That you, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar, sometimes in 2023, at Potiskum, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did obtain the gross sum of N29,175,000 (Twenty Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira) from one Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited a company registered in Nigeria under the pretence that the said amount represent 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 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count three reads: ” That you, Abubakar Sadiq Abubakar, sometimes in 2023, at Potiskum, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did fraudulently make a false documents to wit: (1) a BUA Food Plc supply agreement dated 10th December, 2024, in the name of Afreebak Nigeria Limited, Potiskum, Yobe State purportedly issued by BUA Food Plc for the supply of 38.9 metric tons of white Sorghum (2) as official statement purported to emanate from BUA Food Plc dated 7th October, 2014 (3) and acknowledgement of receipt of 38.9 metric tons of white sorghum purported to emanate from BUA Food Plc knowing all to be forged and handed same to Ibrahim Zakari Waziri, Shittu Ali Firi and Afreebak Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 364 and punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Yobe State.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him by the court, prompting the EFCC to put him to trial.

In the course of trial, prosecution counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed presented five witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits before the court.

Justice Lawan thereafter, convicted and sentenced Abubakar on count one with an option of fine to the tune of N100,000.00 or serve ten years imprisonment. While on count two the convict is to pay a fine of N5,000 or serve two years imprisonment.

Jail

On count three, the convict is to pay a fine of N100,000 or serve eight years imprisonment while on count four the judge ordered him to pay a fine of N60,000 or serve seven years jail term.

The judge further ordered the convict to pay the sum of N29,175,000 to the petitioner or serve additional ten years imprisonment.

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The convict’s journey to the prison started when he approached the petitioners and introduced himself as a procurement officer of BUA Foods Plc and issued fake receipts to them for the purchase of sorghum from the company.

He collected the sum of N29,175,000 from his victims. He was thereafter arrested, prosecuted and convicted.

Saleh Mamman’s Trial: Court To Deliver Judgment June 9

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026 slated June 9, 2026 for judgment in the trial of the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman for fraud.

Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).

At the proceedings, Mamman’s counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, stated that he filed his final written address on behalf of the defendant on April 1, 2026, and had also filed a reply to the prosecution’s final written address.

Atteh further stated that the defence team relies on the submissions in the applications to urge the court to discharge and acquit Mamman.

Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, in his response, informed the court that the prosecution team filed its final written address on April 14, 2026 and urged the court to convict the defendant on all 12-count charges.

“Your lordship, what is important is the fact that funds left a particular government account and went to a BDC (Bureau de Change) account. The BDC came before my lord to say that it received this money. The BDC went ahead to tell your lordship how he was carrying money to the defendant’s house.

Court

The boy who was working with the defendant also came to testify how he was receiving some of these monies on the instruction of the defendant. How else is the prosecution supposed to prove this matter? The evidence before your lordship is clear,” he said.

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He urged the court to discountenance the submission of the defence and convict the defendant.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till June 9, 2026 for judgment.

NAF Advances Joint Warfighting Capability Through Air-to-Ground Integration Course

In a decisive move to reinforce inter-service synergy and optimise joint operational effectiveness, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), has inaugurated a four-month Air-to-Ground Integration (AGI) Course at the 101 Air Defence Group, NAF Base Makurdi.

The ceremony, held on 22 April 2026, brought together senior officers, instructors, and participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and NAF, underscoring a unified commitment to jointness in ongoing operations.

The initiative reflects the strategic direction of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, whose leadership continues to prioritise deeper inter-service cooperation, strengthened joint doctrine, and the delivery of coordinated combat effects across all theatres.

The AGI Course further demonstrates NAF’s sustained drive to institutionalise collaboration and maximise the collective strengths of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in addressing evolving security challenges.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme, emphasised the critical role of Air-to-Ground Integration in modern warfare, particularly within joint task force operations. He noted that effective synchronisation of air and surface forces remains central to mission success, stressing that the course will significantly enhance participants’ competencies in joint planning, coordination, and execution.

He expressed confidence that graduates of the programme will emerge as force multipliers, capable of delivering improved operational precision and reinforcing the overall combat effectiveness of joint forces in complex operational environments.

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Earlier, the Commandant, AWDC, Air Vice Marshal Garba Ibrahim Jibia, described the AGI Course as a strategic enabler for deepening interoperability among the Services. He highlighted that the complexity of contemporary battlefields demands seamless coordination between air and ground components to achieve decisive outcomes.

NAF

Structured to cultivate a shared operational mindset, common doctrinal understanding, and practical expertise in intelligence-driven targeting, close air support, and real-time battlefield coordination, the course stands as a testament to NAF’s commitment to unity of effort and mission success.

Through this initiative, the Service continues to strengthen joint capacity and advance a cohesive warfighting framework in support of ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations nationwide.