Gombe worker remanded for tearing EFCC’s investigation letters

A desk officer in charge of responding to official correspondences in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Gombe State, Usman Mallam, has been arraigned for allegedly tearing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Official Investigation Activities’ letters.

Mallam who was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Gombe was also accused of obstructing the commission’s investigation.

He was said to have 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.

The lone charge against Mallam reads, “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, 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”.

A statement on Thursday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, noted that Mallam pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Subsequently, counsel for the defendant, SS Usman, applied for the bail of his client.

Justice T. G Ringim thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m and one surety in like sum.

He noted that the surety shall be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth of not less than N10m.

“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,” the statement quoted the judge as saying.

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.