EFCC Arraigns Gombe State Official for Obstructing Investigation by Tearing Official Letters.

June 11, 2024 saw the arraignment of one Usman Mallam by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly tearing official letters related to the Commission's Investigation Activities and obstructing the Commission's investigation before Justice TG Ringim of the Federal High Court located in Gombe, Gombe State.

Mallam was charged with one count of wilfully obstructing an investigation and shredding EFCC official papers. Mallam worked as a desk officer in the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Gombe State, where she was responsible for answering official mail.

The only accusation made against Mallam says; "that you, Usman Mallam on or about the 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honorable 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 offense contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section  38 (2) (a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act".

"My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial," prosecuting attorney AM Labaran said after the defendant entered a not guilty plea to the one-count accusation at arraignment. "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," SS Usman, the defendant's attorney, countered.

The defendant was then granted bail in the amount of N10,000,000.00 (ten million naira) by Justice Ringim, along with an additional sum for one surety. The surety must serve as a director of a private or public firm with a minimum capital of N10,000,000.

Along with the requirements, the guarantor's identity should be confirmed by the court registrar, and the defendant and surety must each provide the court with two passport photos.

Judge Ringim postponed the trial until July 9, 2024, and remanded the defendant to the Gombe State Correctional Service until the bail requirements were met.