Kaduna Residents Face Legal Action For Alleged Obstruction And Assault On EFCC Personnel

Kaduna Residents Face Legal Action For Alleged Obstruction And Assault On EFCC Personnel

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented four suspects before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court. According to a statement released on Saturday, April 27, 2024, the suspects were formally charged on Wednesday for allegedly obstructing lawful duty and assaulting EFCC officers.

The individuals arraigned include Rukayya Ahmed Mustapha, Sadiya Usman Mohammed, Ameera Uthman, and Nafisat Usman. Each faces a separate one-count charge related to obstruction of lawful duty.

For instance, the charge against Sadiya Usman Mohammed alleges that on or about April 15, 2024, in Kaduna, she willfully obstructed EFCC officers while they were carrying out an official assignment to effect a lawful arrest. This action is said to violate Section 38(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, punishable under Section 38(2)(b) of the same Act.

All four suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, the prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, requested a trial date to summon witnesses to court and also sought the defendants’ remand in the Kaduna Correctional Centre.

After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Bello remanded three of the suspects in the Kaduna Correctional Centre. However, due to her status as a nursing mother, Sadiya Usman Mohammed was remanded in EFCC custody. The case was adjourned to May 2, 2024, for the hearing of bail applications.

The suspects were apprehended for allegedly obstructing EFCC officers during an attempt to arrest Hadiza Usman, who had repeatedly evaded arrest despite being charged for arraignment.

During the arrest operation, the four suspects reportedly openly attacked EFCC operatives, assaulting three of them. However, despite the resistance, the officers maintained professionalism, subdued the suspects, and made the arrests without resorting to violence.

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