EFCC frees 7 NAF personnels, Army officer arrested for alleged links with internet fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has freed one serving Nigerian Army commander and seven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel accused of Internet-related fraud.
The accused were apprehended by the anti-graft agency’s Kaduna State zonal office on Monday and held in the commission’s custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn on Friday morning when armed NAF soldiers stormed the EFCC office at Number 4, Wurno Road in the state capital to force the release of their comrades.
The troops, who came at the EFCC headquarters about 10 a.m. in five Hilux patrol vans, encircled the main gate of the commission, preventing EFCC officials from entering or leaving.
The situation culminated in a brawl between Air Force soldiers and EFCC security officials, who exchanged insults and threatened to shoot each other.
The situation was later brought under control after the EFCC zonal head and the leader of the air force team met briefly, resulting in the suspects’ release.
In response to the event, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale informed Channels Television over the phone that the commission chose to release the suspects once its investigation and forensic profiling were completed.
Oyewale noted that the suspects’ release and handover to their respective agencies did not follow the commission’s usual operating process, and that the suspects will still be arraigned in court at the right time despite being released to their respective agencies.
(Credit: Channels TV)