The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Solomon Yohanna , Shedrach Naphtali, Hassan Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar before Justice Hammed Isha, for impersonating the commission by forging its documents to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
They were arraigned on nine-count charges of forgery, aiding to commit crime and impersonation by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC
This was contained on the commission’s website seen by our correspondent on Friday.
One of the charges reads, “That you Solomon Yohana, Shedrach Naphtali, Hassan Mohammed, Abdullah Abubakar, sometimes between 2023 and 2024 in Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did forge the signature of the Commission (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) on the following documents; Letter of Authority on EFCC letter head dated 5th August, 2024, Investigation Approval letter dated 1st April, 2024 on EFCC letter, letter of Team Approval dated 6th December, 2023 on EFCC letter head, letter of Team Approval dated 29th April, 2024 on EFCC letter head bearing the name of the 1st defendant on each document with intent to support the claim that the 1st defendant is a staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission sent to Guyuk Local Government to audit and supervise all the projects of the Local Government awarded by the Federal, State and Local Government, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence of forgery contrary to Section 349 and punishable under Section 351 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa state, 2018.”
However, upon arraignment on October 15, 2024 , the first defendant , Solomon Yahanna pleaded guilty to the crimes while others pleaded not guilty.
Sequel to first defendant’s plea of guilt, prosecution counsel, Saad Saad prayed the court to allow him to bring up witnesses to review the facts of the case. However, counsel to the defendant, C. Karamuel told the court he wasn’t ready to take any witness.
Justice Isha, having heard both prosecution and defence counsels granted each of the defendants ( 2nd , 3rd and 4th defendants ) bail in the sum of N5,000,000 with one surety in like sum who must be resident in Yola and a family man. The sureties shall deposit their identity cards and sign bail bonds.
The judge thereafter remanded Yohanna at Yola Correctional Centre Adamawa State and adjourned the matter to November 15, 2024 for both trial and review of facts.
