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Tag: EFCC

  • Jonathan’s cousin petitions AGF, EFCC over detention

    Detained cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Azibola Robert has petitioned the Attorney general of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) over his continued detention despite an order of court granting him bail.

    Robert said he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 23 over his alleged involvement in the diversion of $40 million meant for securing oil pipelines,  through a firm, One-Plus Holdings, a sister company of Kakatar Construction and Engineering Company Limited.

    The payment was said to have been made by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Bothered by his prolonged detention, Roberts’ lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) via an ex-parte application for an order granting bail to his client.

    Justice Olasumbo Goodluck on April 7 granted Robert’s application and ordered the EFCC to release him on bail, with two sureties standing for him.

    The judge said each of the surety shall be a serving or retired director in any of the Federal Government’s ministries or parastatal and must be resident within the FCT.

    In the petition, copy of which was sent to the EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, Uche noted that his client was still being held in EFCC custody days after the court granted him bail.

  • Decoration: EFCC denial baffling – Ekweremadu

    Decoration: EFCC denial baffling – Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday said he was baffled over the denial of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that it did not decorate him as anti-corruption ambassador.

    Senator Ekweremadu in a statement issued by his media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, noted that it is on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari and his team applied for and subsequently visited him in his office on Tuesday.

    In the statement titled: “Anti-Corruption Ambassador: EFCC’s baffling denial” taking cognizance of the command structure of the agency, the deputy Senate president said it is doubtful if Mr. Bakari could have acted on his own or read from a prepared text without recourse to the commission which he represents, especially as the visit and decoration was never solicited for in the first place.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, denying that the agency decorated the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as its Anti-Corruption Ambassador.

    “We want to put it on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, and his team, applied for and subsequently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy President of the Senate in his office on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.

    ‘Mr. Bakari, amongst other issues he raised, solicited the support of the Senate and National Assembly towards the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration and even presented a frame with a bold picture of President Muhammadu Buhari bearing the inscription: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”

    “Mr. Bakari also, on behalf of the Acting Chairman, management, and staff of the EFCC decorated Senator Ekweremadu as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador of the EFCC.

    “Mr. Bakari’s words: ‘It is, therefore my honour, Your Excellency, to on behalf of my Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly.”

     

  • EFCC uncovers 37,395 ghost workers in Federal Civil Service

    EFCC uncovers 37,395 ghost workers in Federal Civil Service

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered 37,395 ghost workers on the Federal Civil Service payroll, its Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said yesterday.

    Magu, who spoke at an anti-corruption sensitisation programme, organised by the commission for workers in Works and Housing sectors, added that the government lost about N1 billion to the ghost workers.

    He said besides the widespread procurement fraud in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the issue of ghost workers was a source of concern to the commission.

    “EFCC has uncovered 37,395 ghost workers in the Federal Civil Service and investigation is still on.

    “Our investigation has shown that the Federal Government lost close to N1 billion to these ghost workers.

    “The figure will definitely increase as we unravel more ghost workers buried deep in Federal Civil Service payrolls,’’ the commission’s chairman said.

    He explained that the commission had established a Procurement Fraud Unit to handle the increasing petitions relating to violations of the Public Procurement Laws.

    Magu advised civil servants to avoid any act in breach of public procurement, warning that violators risked imprisonment and dismissal from service.

    “In regard to procurement fraud, there has been a sharp rise in the number of petitions relating to violations of the Public Procurement Act (2007).

    “That is what informed my setting up a Procurement Fraud Unit, which has commenced investigation of procurement fraud cases, with some already in courts.

    “Let me warn that civil servants found guilty under the Public Procurement Act risk terms of imprisonment, ranging from five to 10 years, and in addition, may face dismissal from service.

    “The commission is determined more than ever before to rid MDAs of fraudulent activities.’’

    The EFCC chairman announced that the commission planned to place suggestion boxes at designated places for people to drop petitions and reports of corrupt practices to assist the commission in the fight against corruption.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary (Works and Housing), Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, said as the drivers of government policies, MDAs, should be in the forefront of compliance with public service laws and regulations.

    He said: “It is rather sad that over time, the laws, regulations and standard practice governing the operations of the public service are being neglected and often abused, in many cases with impunity.

    “The MDAs are expected to be in the forefront of compliance with extant laws and regulations, because they constitute the engine room of government.

    “They are responsible for implementation of government’s policies and programmes. Therefore, the success or failure of such policies and programmes are on the shoulders of public officers.’’

     

     

  • Jonathan’s cousin can file charges against EFCC – Court

    Two businessmen including a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dakoru Atukpa, allegedly being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been advised by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to initiate contempt proceedings against those they felt disobeyed the court’s orders.

    The advice by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck followed complaint by lawyer to Aziboala Roberts and Dakoru Atukpa, Managing Director and Executive Director of Oneplus Holdings Limited, Chris Uche (SAN) to the effect that the court’s order granting the applicants bail have not been complied with by the EFCC.

    The lawyer informed the court that the EFCC had ‘flagrantly’ disobeyed two orders of the court granting bail to their clients.

    He described the development as constituting “grave concern” to the administration of criminal justice in the country.

    The judge said if the applicants were sure of their complaint, they could file Forms 48 and other “proper applications,” assuring that “the court has a duty to take action.”

     

  • EFCC rejects new Money Laundering Bill

    EFCC rejects new Money Laundering Bill

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday rejected the new Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill 2016 because it may prejudice President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda.

    It said passing the bill into law now will affect Nigeria’s application for the membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

    To the agency, the bill seeks to divest EFCC of powers to probe offences bordering on economic and financial crimes. Besides, said the agency, it will, if passed into law, give the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) some discretion which may be abused.

    It also faulted plans to establish a Bureau for Money Laundering Control (BMLC) for a service which is already being rendered efficiently by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).

    The EFCC, which made its stand known in a position paper presented to the National Assembly, spotted 12 gaps which it believes could impede the government’s anti-corruption.

    A copy of the report was yesterday presented to the House Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes in Abuja at a closed-door review session.

    The paper said in part: “The bill appears complex and difficult to decipher as it is riddled with complex web of cross references.

    “Clause 15(4) (c) is unconstitutional as it is retroactive because it is designed to subject persons to prosecution under this bill for offences committed before its enactment into law.

    “Clauses 18(5), (6) and (7) are in conflict with Section 7(2) of the EFCC Act as they seek to divest EFCC of its powers to cause investigation into economic and financial crimes offences and, by extension, attempt to transfer the statutory powers of the EFCC to an unknown and non-existent agency—Proceeds of Crimes Recovery and Management Agency.

    “Clause 14(2) of the bill provides that Financial Institutions (FIs) and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are competent but not compellable to give evidence in criminal proceedings arising from the report which they make under the bill.

    “The effect is that there will be challenges in the successful prosecution of money laundering related offences.

    “Moreover, this clause is contrary to the provisions of the Evidence Act as the issue of competency and compellability of witnesses are settled principles of a law under the Evidence Act and judicial authorities.”

    The EFCC also faulted discretionary powers given to the Attorney-General of the Federation on reporting of money laundering cases and the amounts payable by offenders.

    It said such powers may be abused if any AGF is not well-intentioned.

    The paper added: “Considering the importance of reporting in an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime, it will be counter-productive to leave reporting obligations to the wide discretion of the Attorney-General.

    “This is liable to abuse if the person occupying the office of the Attorney-General at any material time is not well-intentioned. He may adjust the regulations at will to serve or protect some interests. The same applies to making of cash payments under Clause 16 of the bill.

    “Moreover, Clause 19 of the bill provides that: ‘The Attorney-General shall, by regulations made on the recommendations of the supervisory authorities set out the prescribed amounts and the specified particulars referred to in sections 16(2) and 17(1) and 18(1) of this Act’

    “This will likely create uncertainties and challenges in the enforcement and compliance processes. It is also burdensome for the prosecution who will have to look at two or more documents in order to frame charges for money laundering.”

    On the plan to establish Bureau for Money Laundering Control (BMLC), the EFCC said it is unnecessary because the same service is being rendered efficiently by the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML).

    Clauses 35 to 49 of the bill seek to establish an agency known as the Bureau for Money Laundering Control which will be a body corporate, with its own staff and advisory board that will be responsible for the supervision of designated non-financial businesses and professions in their compliance with the provisions of the bill and relevant regulations.

    “The work that the agency is to do is already being done by SCUML (which the bill dissolves in Section 49). It has not been shown that SCUML has been ineffective to warrant it being dissolved and another agency set up to carry out its functions.

    “Furthermore, making the BMLC a body corporate will expose it to unnecessary litigations by persons who do not want to comply with applicable regulations under the AML. By the nature of its operations, it should enjoy a substantial measure of anonymity under another body.

    “In addition, setting up an agency as stated above will further proliferate government institutions when the government’s policy is to streamline or merge existing ones in order to cut cost.”

    The EFCC told the National Assembly that the nation does not need the proposed Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill 2016.

    The commission added: “It is against this backdrop that the commission is of the opinion that the proposed Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill 2016 is unnecessary; posits that whatever perceived gaps in the existing legislation(as amended) are not such that cannot be addressed by an amendment.

    “In the light of our highlighted observations, it is apparent that the entire bill as constituted will likely prejudice the President’s fight against corruption as it will allow money laundering to thrive in Nigeria.

    “In view of the above observed deficiencies inherent in the bill, we recommend as follows:

    • It is not advisable to pass the bill into law
    • The existing AML has no deficiencies that cannot conveniently be cured by an amendment.
    • In view of Nigeria’s current standing in the international community on the robustness of its AML/CFT regime, it will be counter-productive to pass this bill into law.
    • The bill is not timely as its passage will affect Nigeria’s standing in the next round of Mutual Evaluation
    • Passing of the bill into law at this time will affect Nigeria’s application for FATF membership since Nigeria’s acceptance is based on the current Anti-Money Laundering Law (AML).
    • Passage of the bill may subject Nigeria to an FATF International Cooperation Review Group process to determine if the law meets the FATF Standards, and if not Nigeria may be subjected to a complex ICRG compliance process.
  • Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    •‘N1billion allegedly converted to personal use’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned a former Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Director-General Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi for alleged N22.7 billion fraud.

    He was charged with a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Tompolo was absent yesterday. He was also absent when his co-accused were earlier arraigned on alleged N34 billion fraud in a separate charge.

    Those arraigned yesterday included Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa, Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited and Wabod Global Resources Ltd.

    Others are Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

    The charge borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N22.7 billion.

    Also named in the charge are Akpobolokemi’s four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large. They were said to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

    The defendants were accused of converting money running into over N22.7 billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba, on February 8, directed security agencies to arrest Tompolo and held that the warrant issued for his arrest still subsists.

    Tompolo’s lead counsel Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) sought to set aside the warrant, but the judge dismissed the application and re-issued a fresh warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.

    The judge granted EFCC’s application empowering it to seize Tompolo’s traceable assets, pending his arrest or appearance in court for arraignment.

    The property will be auctioned after three months, beginning from February 19 when the order was made, should Tompolo refuse to turn up.

    Tompolo appealed the order and prayed the appellate court to order the transfer of his case from Justice Buba.

    His lawyers urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the warrant on the basis that Justice Buba erred by refusing to nullify it.

    Tompolo asked the court to nullify sections 221 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which he said violated his rights.

    He sought an order “nullifying, voiding, striking down and expunging sections 221 and 306 from the ACJA 2015, following their inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution.”

    Section 221 says: “Objections shall not be taken or entertained during proceedings or trial on the grounds of an imperfect or erroneous charge.”

    Section 306 says: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before a court shall not be entertained.”

    Tompolo contended that the sections were unconstitutional because they sought to prevent the court from exercising its jurisdiction to entertain any objection to a criminal charge and an application for a stay of proceedings pending appeal.

    The case came up for hearing yesterday before Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola. Tompolo’s lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa informed the court that Nigeria and the attorney-general of the federation were served with the originating motion.

    He  said the EFCC and the IGP declined service on the grounds that the date of hearing was too close.

    Adegboruwa applied for a short adjournment to enable the court bailiff serve the court processes on the EFCC, IGP and other respondents.

    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola adjourned till May 4 for hearing, while Justice Buba adjourned till May 30 for trial.

    Also yesterday, the Federal High Court in Lagos heard that Akpobolokemi and others allegedly converted over N1billion belonging to the agency to their personal use.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Chukwuma Orji, said the money was diverted through different companies and direct withdrawals.

    He was testifying in Akpobolokemi’s trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Akpobolokemi was charged along with a former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development at NIMASA, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    They were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year. They pleaded not guilty.

    Orji said the commission received intelligence that there was “monumental fraud” perpetrated by Akpobolokemi using funds meant for a NIMASA committee on International Ship and Port Facility Security  (ISPS) Code.

    He said: “NIMASA was appointed the designated ISPS agent in Nigeria on May 23, 2013.“

    Justice Buba adjourned till April 29 for continuation of trial.

    Akpobolokemi set up a committee on ISPS chaired by Captain Agaba.

     

  • Akpobolokemi, others ‘converted N1b for personal use’

    Akpobolokemi, others ‘converted N1b for personal use’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday heard that a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi and others allegedly converted over N1 billion belonging to the agency to their personal use.

    An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator, Chukwuma Orji, said the money was diverted through different companies and direct withdrawals.

    He was testifying in Akpobolokemi’s trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Akpobolokemi was charged alongside a former Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development at NIMASA, Captain Ezekiel Agaba, his aides Ekene Nwakuche and Governor Juan as well as Blockz and Stonz Limited, Kenzo Logistics Limited and Al-Kenzo Logistic Limited.

    They were accused of converting N2,658,957,666 between December 23, 2013 and May 28 last year.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Orji said the commission received intelligence that there was “monumental fraud” perpetrated by Akpobolokemi using funds meant for a NIMASA committee on International Ship and Port Facility Security  (ISPS) Code.

    He said: “NIMASA was appointed the designated ISPS agent in Nigeria on May 23, 2013. Akpobolokemi set up a committee on ISPS chaired by Captain Agaba.

    “On October 2, 2013, Akpobolokemi applied to President Goodluck Jonathan through the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) headed by Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) for N1,123,400,000 for the implementation of ISPS Code.

    “On November 4, 2013, President Jonathan through the NSA approved the money. The approval was signed by Dasuki. The fund was released to NIMASA.

    “On January 3, 2014, the money was transferred from NIMASA to the Committee on ISPS account in which Agaba and others are signatories based on Akpobolokemi’s directive.

    “Out of the sum slated for ISPS, the sum of N1,000,258,666 was fraudulently converted by the accused persons and their accomplices in a grand conspiracy,” the witness said.

     

  • Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    Tompolo absent as EFCC arraigns ex-NIMASA DG, others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, for alleged N22.7billion fraud.

    He was charged along with a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos in Lagos.

    However, Tompolo was absent in court on Monday.

    He was also absent when his co-accused persons were earlier arraigned on alleged N34billion fraud in a separate charge.

    Those arraigned on Monday included Akpobolokemi, Kime Engozu, Josephine Otuaga, Rita Uruakpa, Mieka Dive Training Institute Ltd/GTE, Oyeinteke Global Network Limited and Wabod Global Resources Limited.

    Others were Boloboere Properties Estate Ltd, Gokaid Marine Oil and Gas Ltd, Muhaabix Global Services Ltd and Watershed Associated Resources.

    The charge borders on stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N22.7billion.

    Also named in the charge were Akpobolokemi four brothers – Victor, Nobert, Emmanuel and Clement – said to be at large. They were said to have aided the suspects to commit the fraud.

    The defendants were accused of converting various sums running into over N22.7billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

    Justice Buba had on February 8 directed security agencies to arrest Tompolo and held that the warrant of arrest issued for his arrest still subsists.

     

  • Court orders AGF to prosecute fraud suspects

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday held that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation will prosecute 16 suspects accused of fraud at the Consolidated Discount House Limited.

    There was a disagreement between lawyers representing the AGF and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on who should prosecute the case.

    Justice Idris held that in light of the subsisting fiat given to private legal practitioners led by a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Joseph Daudu (SAN), the EFCC cannot take over unless the AGF directs otherwise.

    Three separates charges were filed against the suspects. Defendants in the first charge are Stephen Akinretoye, Peter Ololo and Falcon Securities Limited.

    The second charge has Akinretoye, Mudashiru Shittu, Olawale Omisore, Captain Eddy Ndoms, Aquatic Transport Limited, Cross Oceans Limited and Ehco Ventures Limited as defendants.

    In the third charge, Akinretoye, Shittu, Larai Claude-Eninn, Hassan Gbenga, Ajibola Jolaosho, Omisore Olawale, Omisope Johnson, Onimole Adebawale and Emmanuel Odedina are the accused.

    In the first charge, the complainant, the Federal Government, alleged that between January 1 and December 31, 2007, the accused conspired to defraud Consolidated Discount Limited by granting loans to Falcon Securities Limited, a company owned by Ololo, without proper documentation.

    The prosecution said they allegedly converted N43.9 billion, funds belonging to Consolidated Discount, in contravention of Section 15 (2) and 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2012.

    In the second charge, Akinterotoye and others allegedly defrauded the company in the guise of granting loans to the fourth to seventh defendants and converted N520 million, N303 million and N600 million respectively.

    The prosecution said investigations showed that Consolidated Discount paid for vessels before the dates of the applications for loan made by the fourth to seventh accused.

    In the third charge, the prosecution said the defendants, as employees of Consolidated Discount, committed fraud by converting its N915.7 million.

     

  • Alleged destruction of evidence: Metuh shuns court

    Alleged destruction of evidence: Metuh shuns court

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh was absent Monday at the scheduled resumption of his trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Although Metuh and his lawyer were in court at the last adjourned date of March 16 when parties agreed to Monday owning to the judge’s absence, Metuh and his legal team refused to turn up.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 21 this year, arraigned Metuh on two-count charges of attempting to destroy evidence to be used for his trial in the allegation of receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki for which he has already been arraigned in another court.

    The EFCC stated in the charge that Metuh ‘tore into pieces statement made under caution’ contrary to section 326 of the penal code and punishable under Section 327 of the same code.

    The prosecution later amended the charge and added a third count of “Mischief”, which contravened Section 326 punishable under Section 327 of the Penal Code.

    Monday, it was only the prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir and his witness (the first prosecution witness, Said Junaid) who were in court.

    They were later informed by court’s official, having waited for over one hour that the trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, was not available.

    Attempts by officials of the court to contact members of the defence team failed. An official of the court, who said he attempted to reach Emeka Etiaba (SAN), explained that calls to his number were not successful.

    Having failed to establish contact with the defence team, the court’s officials later adjourned further proceedings to May 9.

    On February 24, Junaid, while testifying as the first prosecution witness, gave details how Metuh allegedly tore the statement.

    Led in evidence by Tahir, the witness said his team visited Metuh’s residence at Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja on January 5, 2016 and invited him to the Commission.

    Metuh, according to the prosecution witness, honoured the invitation and was interrogated by Ibrahim Musa, Micheal Wetkas, Bello Umar, David Nkpe, Bello Adama and Eucheria Ibrahim adding that the PDP spokesperson volunteered a statement to the commission.

    “My Lord, when he concluded writing his statement which was on four sheets of the EFCC statement form, I collected the statement and read over it. I then handed it over to my superiors Musa and Wektas. My lord, he suddenly tore the statement sheet into pieces, in great shock and surprise I stood up and I asked him why he did what he did.

    “He said he did that because he was no longer willing to give the information on that statement sheet. I then requested the pieces of the statement, he declined and attempted to put them in his pocket, I then cautioned him and told him to respect himself, he insisted that he was going to dispose the torn sheet.

    “I persuaded him to handover the torn sheet and brought one plain paper before him, he poured the pieces on the plain sheet, my other colleagues were there looking at us in surprise as well.

    “He furthered tore them into pieces, saying only in the movies would this be recovered. I poured the pieces in the commission’s transparent polythene bag for exhibit and made entry of the incident into the EFCC’s incident duty station diary as well as EFCC’s pocket notebook.

    “Later, in the day he requested to make additional statement, which he made, wrote his name and signed but declined to make any other statement on the torn paper,’’ Junaid said.