RismadarVoice Reporters, April 2, 2026
Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, has convicted and sentenced one Abdulrahman Mallam to six months imprisonment for giving false information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mallam was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a one-count charge bordering on false declaration.
According to the charge, the defendant, between October 24, 2025 and March 2026, made written statements to EFCC officers falsely claiming he was a civil servant with the Ministry of Youth and Sport Poverty Alleviation in Borno State, and that he was already retired when he stood as a surety—claims he knew to be untrue.
The offence contravenes Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2024 and is punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Following his plea, prosecution counsel, S.O. Saka, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, while defence counsel, A.B. Dikwa, appealed for leniency, citing the defendant’s remorse.
Justice Kumaliya subsequently sentenced Mallam to six months imprisonment with an option of a N50,000 fine.
The court heard that his arrest stemmed from providing false information while attempting to stand as a surety at the EFCC’s Maiduguri office.
In a related development, the court also arraigned one Ibrahim Mohammed Tungushe on charges of alleged fraud.
Tungushe is accused of dishonestly misappropriating the sum of N1.25 million, being proceeds from the sale of 100 cartons of instant noodles belonging to one Bukar Babakura. The prosecution alleged that the defendant received the goods under the pretext of supplying them to customers and remitting payment within 24 hours but failed to do so.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in custody.
Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter until April 16, 2026, for commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre.
The EFCC said the case arose after the defendant allegedly failed to return either the goods or the proceeds to the complainant.
