Before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented four suspects for arraignment.
Charged with obstructing lawful duty and assaulting EFCC officers, the suspects are Rukayya Ahmed Mustapha, Sadiya Usman Mohammed, Ameera Uthman, and Nafisat Usman.
Each of them faced separate one-count charges related to obstruction of lawful duty.
For example, Sadiya Usman Mohammed’s charge states: “That you, Sadiya Usman Mohammed on or about the 15th April, 2024 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the Kaduna State High Court willfully obstructs officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while carrying out an official assignment … an offence contrary to Section 38(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.”
When the charges were read, all four suspects pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, to request a trial date and the remand of the defendants.
Justice Bello remanded three suspects at the Kaduna Correctional Centre, while Sadiya Usman Mohammed, a nursing mother, was remanded in EFCC custody. The case was adjourned to May 2, 2024, for the hearing of bail applications.
These suspects were arrested for obstructing EFCC officers attempting to arrest Hadiza Usman, who had repeatedly evaded bail conditions and arraignment. During the arrest attempt, the suspects physically confronted the EFCC operatives, assaulting three and causing disturbance.
Despite the physical confrontation, the EFCC officers maintained professionalism, subdued the suspects, and made the arrests without resorting to violence.