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By John Ogunsemore
A desk officer in the office of the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Usman Mallam, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly tearing the commission’s investigation letters and obstructing justice.
The EFCC announced Mallam’s arraignment in a Thursday statement.
The anti-graft commission said its Gombe Zonal Directorate arraigned the defendant before Justice TG Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State on June 11.
Mallam, a desk officer in charge of responding to official correspondences in the Gombe SSG’s office was arraigned on a one-count charge of willful obstruction of investigation activities and tearing official documents of the EFCC.
The lone charge against Mallam reads, “That you, Usman Mallam on or about 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 and thereby committed 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, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution counsel AM Labaran to ask the court for a trial date.
Responding, counsel to the defendant, SS Usman said, “My Lord, we have a bail application dated June 11, 2024. We 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.
The court said the surety should be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth of not less than N10 million.
The judge directed the court registrar to verify the identity of the surety, while both the surety and the defendant should submit two passport photographs to the court .
Justice Ringim remanded the defendant in Gombe State Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case to July 9, 2024, for trial.
