Justice M. Zubairu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jikwoyi, Abuja, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, convicted Haruna Mamuda and Sadiq Umar for posing as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defraud members of the public.
The duo was convicted on a five-count charge bordering on impersonation, criminal conspiracy, and unlawful representation.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Haruna Mamuda, Sadiq Umar (a.k.a. Abubakar Hashimu Umar), and Salifu Olije Mustapha (now standing trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Court 21, Kubwa), sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: personating a public servant by falsely presenting yourselves as officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under Section 132 of the same Act.”
Count four reads: “That you, Sadiq Umar (a.k.a. Abubakar Hashimu Umar), sometime in March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, falsely personated an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and, in that assumed character, defrauded unsuspecting members of the public, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Following their guilty plea, prosecution counsel, R.U. Adagba, urged the court to convict them accordingly.
Counsel to the first convict, Anamegbumam Innocent, pleaded with the court for leniency, stating that his client had shown remorse for the offences and had cooperated with officers of the Commission. He also informed the court that the first convict is married with children.
Similarly, counsel to the second convict, Bemdo Asan, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that his client had no previous criminal record.
In response, Adagba urged the court to impose appropriate sentences.
“My Lord, the first defendant is a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army. His sentence should serve as a deterrent to society at large. I also urge the court to take into consideration the fact that they were brought in from the Department of State Services (DSS), where they are facing charges of terrorism financing and kidnapping,” she said.
Justice Zubairu adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, for sentencing and ordered that the convicts remain in the custody of the EFCC.
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