EFCC arraigns man for forgery, giving false information

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Tijani Adamu before Justice Mohammed Muazu of the Kaduna State High Court on seven counts bordering on forgery and giving false information.

Tijani had offered to stand surety for one Ibrahim Adamu, who was arrested for alleged fraud and was to be granted bail pending the conclusion of investigation into the case.

Tijani was said to have presented documents to the EFCC claiming to be an employee of the Universal Basic Education Commission.

However, when the documents were sent to the UBEC for verification, the feedback was that his appointment with the agency was terminated in 2004.

Tijani was consequently arrested.

In his statement to the EFCC, the suspect confessed that he was approached by his friend, one Alhaji Shuaibu, to stand surety for Adamu.

He also confessed that he forged the documents, which included a letter of introduction from UBEC as a level 16 officer, alongside others.

The counts preferred against him read in part, “That you, Alhaji Tijani Adamu, sometime in January 2019 in 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, which you knew to be false and in that assumed character, stood as surety for one Ibrahim Adamu with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, thereby committing 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 on Thursday, according to a statement by the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade.

The prosecuting counsel, Y. J. Matiyak, urged the court to give a date for the commencement of trial, and also prayed for the remand of the defendant in prison pending the trial date.

The defence counsel, A. M. Imam, however, moved a bail application, but Matiyak objected, arguing that the alleged offence bordered on felony, noting that he needed time to file a counter affidavit in response to the bail application.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Muazu ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison and adjourned to July 3, 2019, for hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial.