Corruption In Custody? Two EFCC Officers Charged With Murder Of Colleague During Fight Over Detainee’s Items

• Two officials of the EFCC have been charged with the murder of their colleague following a fight over custody procedures in Sokoto.

• The incident, occurred, during a disagreement between Assistant Superintendent Apata Odunayo and Inspector Tochukwu Ogbuji regarding the storage of items belonging to a detainee.

• The EFCC has suspended the two officers and handed them over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

EKOHOTBLOG reports that the assistant Superintendent Apata Odunayo and Inspector Tochukwu Ogbuji, both officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have been charged with the murder of one of their colleagues, Inspector Abel Dickson.

As per EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, the clash arose when the three disagreed on the regulations regarding the storage of possessions that belonged to a suspect in custody.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• 5 Things You Should Know About Life And Career Of Murphy Afolabi

• Nasarawa PDP Women End Three-Day Fast And Prayer, Await Tribunal Verdict On Allegedly Rigged Gubernatorial Election

• NIS’s Fight Against Passport Corruption: 8 Officers Sacked, 80 On Trial

The altercation, according to Bawa’s briefing of journalists in Abuja, turned into a physical altercation, resulting in Inspector Dickson’s untimely death.

He said: “We have invited you this morning to brief you about an unfortunate incident that happened at our Sokoto Zonal Command, which is suspected to have led to the death of one of our young officers, Inspector of the EFCC, Abel Dickson.

“The officer passed away on May 7, 2023, at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, where he was receiving treatment for injuries he sustained, two days earlier, in a scuffle with two other staff: Odunayo and Ogbuji.

“They had disagreed over procedures for the custody of items belonging to a suspect in detention, leading to a fight, a conduct which the commission frowns at.

“The two officers with whom he had a disagreement have been suspended by the commission and handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“The latest information is that a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide have been filed against them at a Chief Magistrate’s Court, Gwiwa in Sokoto, both offences are punishable under Sections 60 and 191 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Low, 2019.

“Without prejudice to the Police investigation, they will in addition face further disciplinary measures in line with the commission’s staff regulation.”

FURTHER READING

• Obasanjo Warns Against Failure To Achieve Nigeria’s Full Potential

• ‘Tinubu Can Govern Nigeria From Russia After Inauguration’ – APC Chieftain

• Atiku Sends Warm Wishes To Governor Adeleke On His Remarkable 63rd Birthday

Wilson Uwujaren, who represented the EFCC chairman, conveyed sympathies to the family of the deceased officer and guaranteed that the commission would exert all efforts to guarantee that justice is served.
Click to watch our video of the week