The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that a suspect under investigation, Desmond Nunugwo, died earlier in the day a few hours after he was taken into custody.
His demise was confirmed at the hospital to where he was rushed after he unexpectedly took ill.
Nunugwo was under probe for an alleged N91million fraud.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confimed the death of the suspect said the police were investigating the cause of the death.
He said: “The late Nunugwo allegedly fraudulently obtained N91million from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who were on the verge of buying NICON Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business.
“ Consequently, she wired N91m into Nunugwo’s nominated account (Mainagge General Merchants) in Diamond Bank.
“After the transfer of the funds, Nunugwo became evasive, forcing the complainant to report the transaction to the EFCC.
“Consequently, Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja at about 5.33pm on Thursday, June 9, 2016.
“His statement was taken, where he admitted receiving the money from the complainant, with the additional information that he transferred N30m of the said money to Norway. But he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.
“The suspect was detained at about 7.30pm, in the absence of anybody to take him on bail.
“Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”