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EFCC arrests staff over alleged N15m bribe

Acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu

Acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday said it had arrested one of its operatives, Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue, over alleged N15 million bribe.

The Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

Uwujaren noted that the arrest was in line with EFCC’s determination to flush out corrupt operatives aimed at upholding its integrity.

He stated that “in furtherance of its avowed commitment to uphold the integrity of its officers, EFCC has arrested one of its operatives.

“Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue was arrested for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion.’’

According to Uwujaren, the suspect, who is until his arrest a Deputy Detective Superintendent (DSS), collected N15 million from a lawmaker who is
under investigation by the commission.

He noted that “Agbazue was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation by the commission, alleging that the operative collected N15 million from him and promised to give him (the lawmaker) soft landing.”

He added that the lawmaker had told the commission that the defendant could not deliver on his promise as he could not get the bidding of the investigating officer.

“Following the approach, the sum of N15 million was given to Agbazue, whose game plan collapsed after the investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding.

“And with the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded for 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.”

It would be recalled that the EFCC as an anti-graft agency has the constitutional backing to investigate, arrest and prosecute alleged financial crimes aimed at complementing Federal Government’s war against corruption.

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