Friday, 23 September 2016

EFCC Staff who took Multi-Million bribe from lawmaker nabbed


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has arrested one of its operatives for allegedly collecting a N15 million bribe.

EFCC, in a statement released on Friday, said Uzodinma Agbazue a deputy detective superintendent, was arrested for “offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion”.

Mr. Agbazue was arrested on Thursday following a complaint by a lawmaker under investigation by the Commission, the statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

The lawmaker said that the EFCC detective collected N15m from him with a promise to compromise the investigation.

Mr. Agbazue allegedly approached him, claiming he had been mandated by the officer handling the case to discuss and reach an agreement on how to “kill the case”.

“Following the approach, a sum of N15m was given to Agbazue whose game plan collapsed after the Investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding.

“With the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded a refund.

“The complainant stated that, when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5 million claiming that the balance of N10 million had been given to someone 'to kill the case from the top',” the statement adds.

The lawmaker also alleged that the operative collected N1million at a different time as assistance for settlement of his wife’s medical bill.

The anti-graft agency said: “Uzordinma Agbazue’s action is in contravention of the Commission’s mandate and ideals as the EFCC will not solicit or accept gratification from a suspect to compromise a case under investigation.

“The suspect will be subjected to administrative action as precursor to possible prosecution at the end of the investigation.”

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