The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Usman Zakari, Chief Bailiff of the Gombe State High Court of Justice, before Justice Haruna H. Kereng of Gombe State High Court 3.
Zakari was brought before the court on July 2, 2025, on a one-count charge of fraudulent conversion filed by the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Directorate.
According to the EFCC, in October 2023, Zakari was entrusted with the auction of a property involved in judgment enforcement under suit No. GM/329M/2023. The property was sold for ₦14,000,000 while he was serving as Chief Bailiff of the Gombe State High Court.
Parts of the statement reads, “On settling of the judgment debtor in favour of the judgment creditor (Ahmed Umaru) in the sum of N4,180,000.00 (Four Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) and thereafter dishonestly converted the sum of N9,820,000.00 (Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) being the remaining balance from the auction which was meant to be remitted to the judgment debtor and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308 and Section 309 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria respectively”
However, Zakari was quick to plead not guilty, which prompted the prosecuting counsel, M. O. Tijani to ask for a trial date and to remand the defendant in Gombe Correctional Centre.
In his argument, counsel to the defendant, Yusuf A.Aliyu, moved a motion for bail of his client.
