The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken a significant step in combating fraud by arraigning four individuals for forgery and impersonation. According to a statement released by the EFCC on X.com, the suspects – Solomon Yohanna, Shedrach Naphtali, Hassan Mohammed, and Abdullahi Abubakar – were arraigned before Justice Hammed Isha of the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.
The charges against them include nine counts of forgery, aiding to commit a crime, and impersonation. The suspects allegedly forged documents of the EFCC, including letters of authority, investigation approval letters, and team approval letters, all on EFCC letterheads. These documents were used to deceive people into believing that the first defendant, Solomon Yohanna, was a staff member of the EFCC sent to audit and supervise projects in Guyuk Local Government.
During the arraignment on October 15, 2024, Solomon Yohanna pleaded guilty to the charges, while the other defendants pleaded not guilty. Yohanna was remanded at the Yola Correctional Centre in Adamawa State. The prosecution counsel, Saad H. Saad, requested to bring up witnesses to review the facts of the case, but the defence counsel, C. Karamuel, indicated he was not ready to take any witnesses.
Justice Isha granted bail to the second, third, and fourth defendants in the sum of N5 million each, with one surety who must be a resident in Yola and a family man. The sureties are required to deposit their identity cards and sign bail bonds. The case has been adjourned to November 15, 2024, for trial and review of facts.
