Government official arraigned for tearing EFCC investigation letters

Usman Mallam, a government official, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly tearing official investigation letters, thereby obstructing an investigation carried out by the Commission.

The arraignment was held in front of Justice T.G. Ringim at the Federal High Court in Gombe, on June 11, 2024.

According to an EFCC statement released on Thursday, Mallam, who serves as a desk officer responsible for handling official correspondence in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Gombe State, faced a single charge of willful obstruction of investigation activities and destruction of official EFCC documents.

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The charge against Mallam 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 officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were conducting an investigation involving an alleged economic and financial crime, did willfully obstruct said investigation by tearing the EFCC formal letters of investigation activities dated January 1, 2024, and February 21, 2024, respectively.” The charge further indicated that his actions were contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act.

Mallam pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution counsel A.M. Labaran requested a trial date, stating, “My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial.” Defense counsel S.S. Usman, meanwhile, submitted a bail application dated June 11, 2024, requesting the court to grant bail.

Justice Ringim granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) with one surety of equal amount. The surety must be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth of not less than N10,000,000. The court also mandated the Registrar to verify the identity of the surety, and both the surety and the defendant were required to submit two passport photographs.

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