ICPC Closes Case Against Alleged Job Racketeer in Adamawa Court

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has formally closed its case against Umar Abubakar, who is standing trial over alleged job racketeering before the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola. 

Abubakar is being prosecuted in suit number HC/ADSY/127C/2022 in a case between the Federal Government and the defendant, presided over by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Hafsat Abdulrahman.

At the resumed hearing on March 2, 2026, prosecution counsel, Lorngee Terkuma Solomon, representing ICPC, presented the Commission’s final witness.

The witness, Mr. Isah Abdullahi Gaude, an ICPC investigator and member of the investigative team, told the court that the defendant was arrested during a sting operation carried out in April 2022 in Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.

According to him, the operation followed a petition alleging that Abubakar offered to secure employment in ICPC for one Kabiru Musa in exchange for the sum of ₦1 million.

Gaude explained that the defendant was apprehended during the operation with a purported temporary appointment letter of ICPC and the sum of ₦100,000, which formed part of the pre-arranged money used in the sting operation.

He further testified that investigators later obtained a search warrant to search the defendant’s residence, where additional incriminating documents were discovered. The recovered materials included purported appointment letters and letterheads bearing the names of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola and the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo.

Following the testimony of the final witness, the prosecution announced the closure of its case.

However, counsel to the defendant, A.U. Sangere, after cross-examining the witness, applied to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against his client.

Justice Abdulrahman subsequently adjourned the matter to March 30, 2026, for the adoption of written addresses on the no-case submission.

Umar Abubakar is facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence with intent to defraud, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; fraudulent making and signing of a document with intent to cause it to be believed as genuine, contrary to Section 349(a) and punishable under Section 351 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State; and corruptly obtaining consideration as a reward, contrary to Section 17(1)(a) and punishable under Section 68 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.