EFCC
EFCC Docks Surety
EFCC
EFCC Docks Surety for Forgery, Lying
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal
Office on June 13, 2019 arraigned one Tijani Adamu before Justice
Moh’d Tukur Muazu of the Kaduna State High Court on a seven-count
charge bordering on forgery, uttering and giving false
information.
Adamu wanted to stand surety for one Ibrahim Adamu, who was
arrested for an alleged fraud, and who was to be granted bail
pending the conclusion of investigations into the fraud.
He presented documents to the EFCC claiming to be as a staff of
the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
However, when the documents he tendered were sent by the EFCC to
UBEC for verification and to ascertain whether he was a staff of
the UBEC, the feedback was that his appointment with UBEC was in
fact terminated in 2004, and so was no longer in the employ of the
UBEC. Subsequently, he was arrested.
He testified in his statement that he was approached by one
Alhaji Shuaibu, a friend of his, to come and take Ibrahim Adamu on
bail.
Under further interrogation, he confessed that the documents,
which included a letter of introduction from UBEC as a level 16
officer of the Commission, alongside others required to stand in as
surety, were forged for him by a friend of his.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Alhaji Tijjani Adamu,
sometimes in January 2019 at Kaduna within the Judicial Division of
this Honourable Court did pretend to be a Deputy Director, Internal
Audit on Salary Grade Level 16/5 of the National Primary Education
Commission/ Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) which you
knew to be false and in that assumed character, stood as a surety
to one Ibrahim Adamu in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable
under Section 96 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State 2017.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to
him.
Prosecuting counsel, Y.J. Matiyak, urged the court to give a
date for the commencement of trial, and to remand the defendant in
prison, pending the trial date.
Defence counsel, A.M. Imam, however, moved the bail application
of the defendant, but Matiyak, raised objections, arguing that the
alleged offence bordered on felony and that he needed time to file
a counter-affidavit in response to the bail application.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Muazu, ordered the
defendant to be remanded in prison, and adjourned to July 3, 2019
for “hearing of bail application and commencement of trial”.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity