By Biola Lawal
Flowerbudnews: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , (EFCC,) has arraigned one Usman Mallam for allegedly tearing EFCC’s official Investigation Activities’ letters and obstructing The Commission’s investigation.
He was arraigned before Justice TG Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State , a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC Spokesman has disclosed.
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.
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 caring 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 say, ” My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial “. However , counsel to the defendant, SS Usman said, ” My Lord, we have a bail application dated July 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 N10,000( Ten Million Naira) and one surety in like sum . The surety shall be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth of 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 .
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. (Flowerbudnews)
About Flowerbudnews
Established by Hon. Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Flowerbudnews is a consortium of active journalists, media veterans and image makers in both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry determined to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.
Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.
Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars.
Lawal holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency)
