EFCC arraigns two whistleblowers over false information

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned two self-acclaimed whistleblowers, Buhari Fannami and Ba-Kura Abdullahi on two separate charges before Justice M. T Salihu of the Federal High Court Maiduguri, for allegedly giving false information to the agency.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that Fannamit had misled the commission with the information about illegally acquired monies purportedly buried at the residence of one Ba’a Lawan but the information turned out to be false after the execution of a search warrant.?

The charge reads, “That you, Buhari Fannami, on or about the 8th day of May, 2017 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did make statement to officers of the EFCC under the whistleblower policy to the effect that large sums of money being the proceeds of crime were buried in the residence Ba’a Lawan at Pompomari Layout along Pompomari Bypass, Maiduguri which information/statement you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 39 (2) (a) and 39 (2) (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 respectively.”

Fannami pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel for the prosecution, Alkassim Ja’afar, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused person in the prison custody pending trial.

Justice Salihu adjourned the matter till June 7 and 8, 2017 for hearing and ordered the accused to be remanded in the prison custody.

On his part, Ba-Kura Abdullahi allegedly gave false information to the effect that large sum of money in naira and foreign currencies were buried in the residence of Ba’a Lawan.

Justice Salihu adjourned his case till June 7 and 8, 2017 for commencement of trial and ordered the accused to be remanded in the prison custody.