Daud Olatunji
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Gombe Zonal Directorate has arraigned a government official, Usman Mallam, on charges of willful obstruction of investigation and destruction of official EFCC documents.
The official was dragged before Justice TG Ringim at the Federal High Court in Gombe State faced a one-count charge for allegedly tearing the EFCC’s official investigation letters.
Mallam, who serves as a desk officer responsible for responding to official correspondences in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Gombe State, reportedly torn letters which were integral to the Commission’s investigation activities related to alleged economic and financial crimes.
The charge against Mallam, as read in court, stated: “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” thereby committing an offence 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, Mallam pleaded not guilty to the charge.
This prompted the prosecution counsel, A.M. Labaran, to request a date for trial, stating, “My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial.”
In response, the defence counsel, S.S. Usman, presented a bail application dated June 11, 2024, urging the court to grant bail to the defendant.
Justice Ringim granted Mallam bail under stringent conditions. The bail was set at N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira), with one surety in like sum.
The surety must be a director in a government establishment or a private company with capital not less than N10,000,000.
Additionally, the court mandated the Registrar to verify the identity of the surety, and both the surety and the defendant are required to submit two passport photographs to the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Justice Ringim ordered that Mallam be remanded in Gombe State Correctional Service.
The trial is set to resume on July 9, 2024.
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