Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, on Monday, June
22, 2020, convicted and sentenced an assistant director in Borno State
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Usman Abaji to six months
imprisonment for obstruction of justice.
The convict was prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Office of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one- count charge of willful
obstruction of the Commission to exercise its powers to investigate and
prosecute in a matter involving one Ibrahim Goni Bama, contrary to
Section 38 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(Establishment) Act.
The Commission arrested the said Bama based on investigations that
linked him with financial crimes but had to release him on
administrative bail to Abaji, who stood as a surety for him.
Upon realizing that Bama has absconded, the Commission alerted Abaji,
his surety, who failed to produce him in the Commission despite the
ample time, given him to do so.
The one-count charge against the convict read: “That you, Usman Abaji of
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Borno State, sometime in
October 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court, did willfully obstruct the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the exercise of its power to
investigate/prosecute Ibrahim Goni Bama by entering a bond for the sum
of N25,000,000 (Twenty Five Million Naira) only to produce him before
the EFCC at every date he is required until the six (6) cases against
him are finally disposed of; which you failed to do so when called upon
by the EFCC. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 38(2)
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (Establishment) Act
2004 and punishable under section 38(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Having pleaded guilty to the charge, prosecution counsel, Benjamin Manji
prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant.
In his ruling, Justice Kumaliya found Abaji guilty as charged and
sentenced him to six-month imprisonment with N600, 000 (Six Hundred
Thousand Naira) option of fine.