Court Convicts Two Men for Impersonating EFCC Officials

Court Convicts Two Men for Impersonating EFCC Officials

Justice M. Zubairu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jikwoyi, Abuja, has convicted two men, Haruna Mamuda and Sadiq Umar, for allegedly impersonating officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defraud members of the public.

The defendants were convicted on a five-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, impersonation and unlawful representation.

They pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to them before the court on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

One of the counts alleged that Mamuda, Umar, also known as Abubakar Hashimu Umar, and Salifu Olije Mustapha, who is standing trial separately, conspired in March 2026 to falsely present themselves as EFCC officers, contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act.

Another count specifically accused Umar of falsely impersonating an EFCC officer and using the assumed identity to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Following the guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, R.U. Adagba, urged the court to convict the defendants accordingly.

Counsel to the first convict, Anamegbumam Innocent, pleaded for leniency, telling the court that his client had shown remorse, cooperated with EFCC officials and was a married man 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 record of conviction.

However, Adagba urged the court to impose appropriate sentences, stressing the need for the punishment to serve as a deterrent.

She informed the court that the first defendant was a dismissed member of the Nigerian Army and urged the judge to also consider that the defendants had been brought from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where they were allegedly being investigated for terrorism financing and kidnapping.

Justice Zubairu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, for sentencing.

The court also ordered that the convicts remain in EFCC custody pending the sentencing date.

Court Convicts Two Men for Impersonating EFCC Officials