Four remanded for obstruction of EFCC duty

Four persons have been charged by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly obstructing lawful duty and assaulting Commission officials.

They were arraigned before Justice AA Bello of the High Court of Kaduna State, Kaduna.

The suspects are: Rukayya Ahmed Mustapha, Sadiya Usman Mohammed, Ameera Uthman and Nafisat Usman.

The suspects were arrested for obstructing operatives of the Kaduna Command of the EFCC while they were making efforts to arrest one Hadiza Usman, who had separately suspended bail and avoided serving her arraignment charge.

While attempting to effect the arrest, the four suspects openly attacked Commission officers and assaulted three of them, dragging and pulling their uniforms and biting another officer near his collarbone and another on his left hand.

Despite the confrontation with the suspects, the officers maintained discipline and professionalism, subdued and arrested the suspects, without any violence.

They were indicted on separate charges bordering on obstruction of lawful duty.

The sole charge against Sadiya Usman Mohammed reads: “That you, Sadiya Usman Mohammed on or about April 15, 2024 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State, willfully antagonize officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). while executing an official order (which effected a lawful arrest at No. 13 Jafar Organizer Street, Rigachukun, Kaduna) and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 38(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 38(2)(b) of the same Act.”

However, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

Prosecutor, KS Ogunlade, is praying for a trial date to bring the witnesses to justice. He also requested that the defendants be remanded to the Kaduna Correctional Centre.

Justice Bello, after listening to all counsel, remanded three of the suspects to Kaduna Correctional Center while Sadiya Usman Mohammed, a nursing mother, was remanded in the custody of the EFCC. He adjourned the case until May 2, 2024 for the hearing of their bail applications.

Kazeem Badmus graduated in mass communications and has years of experience. Kazeem is a journalism and media writing professional who prioritizes accuracy and factual reporting of issues. He is also a deft finder of the truth and consciously conveys unbiased and developmentally appropriate stories.