EFCC’s detention facility one of the best in Nigeria —Magu

THE acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has described the detention facility of the anti-corruption commission as one of the best, even as he says there is still room for improvement.

Speaking shortly before conducting journalists round the detention facility at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, the anti-corruption Czar stated that compared with what obtained at other security agencies, the facility at the commission was the best.

The tour came on the heel of an editorial by a national newspaper, entitled: “The Death of Citizen Nunugwo,” calling public attention to the sudden death of a suspect, Desmond Nunugwo, who died on June 10, 2016, a few hours after being detained by the commission.

Nunugwo was being investigated for allegedly fraudulently obtaining N91million from an acquaintance after tricking her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), who were to buy Nicon Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business.

Magu stated that the investigation of any suspects by the commission was non violence, declaring emphatically that, “we don’t torture anyone here.”

According to the chairman, before the commission invited anyone to answer any question, it would have done a lot of background checks on the suspects, saying that at that level, facts would be presented to such suspect.

“If EFCC invites you, we have done some background checks. By the time you come here, facts would be presented before you,” he said.

The EFCC boss declared that the anti-graft commission was working for the interest of the country, submitting that, “the interest of Nigeria is above any other interest.”

While priding the commission with the best detention facility among other security agencies in the country, Magu, however, stated that despite what it had on the ground, there was still room for improvement.

Journalists were taken round the cells, interrogation room and clinic, all at its Idiagbon House. Some of the detainees were seen reading newspapers in their cells.

Speaking with journalists, one of the detainees in the cells, Godday Okene Didianma, informed that they were being treated well by the commission, adding that, “we are being fed three times a day. There is a medical facility here that any one who is sick get treated. Even we drink bottled water provided for us.”

Despite what he described as good treatment by the commission, Didianma stated that he preferred going home, saying that, “there is nothing like one’s freedom.”