Gombe man in court for obstructing EFCC investigation, tearing documents

Credit/ EFCC on X

The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 11, 2024, arraigned one Usman Mallam for allegedly tearing the Commission’s official Investigation Activities’ letters.

In a statement by the EFCC, Mallam, a desk officer in charge of responding to official correspondences in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Gombe State, was arraigned on a one-count charge of willful obstruction of investigation activities and tearing official documents of the EFCC.

“That you, Usman Mallam, on or about the 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were carrying out an investigation activity involving an alleged economic and financial crime, did willfully obstruct the said investigation by tearing the EFCC formal letters of investigation activities dated January 1, 2024, and February 21, 2024, respectively.”

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The EFCC stated that Mallam committed an offense contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The prosecution counsel, A.M. Labaran, told the Judge that the defendant had put himself on trial; hence they shall be asking for a date for trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, S.S. Usman, told the Judge they have a bail application dated July 11, 2024, and are asking the court to exercise its discretion and grant the defendant bail.

Justice Ringim thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million and one surety in like sum.

He said, “The surety shall be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth not less than N10,000,000.

“ In addition to the conditions, the Registrar of the court should verify the identity of the surety, and both the surety and the defendant shall submit two passport photographs to the court.”

The defendant was remanded in Gombe State Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions. The case was adjourned to July 9, 2024, for trial.