The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has placed under disciplinary action its officer, who leaked the video of a former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, who was taken into custody on Thursday over alleged N42bn fraud.
The commission, in a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, distanced itself from the video, which showed Obiano dressed in a pair of shorts and a shirt and drinking water from a bottle.
The agency said, “The commission wishes to distance itself from the said video, which is completely at variance with the established standard operating procedure of the EFCC.
“A discreet investigation ordered upon the discovery of the leak has revealed the errant officer behind the odious act and he is currently being subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has disclosed that Obiano has not been released because he has yet to fulfil his bail conditions.
The former governor was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to leave for the United States.
Bawa, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 5th Annual General Assembly of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa, in Abuja, on Monday, explained that the commission was waiting for Obiano to perfect his bail.
Asked why the commission had kept the former governor in its custody beyond the period allowed by the 1999 Constitution, the EFCC boss stated, “Nothing political about the arrest of the former Anambra State governor. He has been granted bail. But we are waiting for when he fulfils his bail conditions.”
Bawa did not disclose the details of the bail.
In his address at the NACIWA event, the chairman of the anti-graft agency said the commission last year secured a conviction record of 2,220 and recoveries in excess of N152bn and $386m, among others.
Women vow to protest naked at EFCC office over Obiano’s detention
The Anambra-North Women Empowerment Movement has threatened to storm the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja naked if the anti-graft agency fails to handle Obiano with dignity.
The group, while condemning a trending video showing the former governor drinking water in the EFCC custody, said it was obvious that the video was taken without Obiano’s knowledge or consent and as such, it should be strongly condemned by lovers of peace and justice.
In a statement issued in Awka on Monday, the chairperson of the group, Mrs Uju Edochie, frowned on “the disgraceful and unruly act displayed by the EFCC.”
Edochie stated that appropriate and humane trial tactics should be employed by the anti-graft agency, adding that Anambra State, under Obiano, experienced a new dawn at sunset.
The statement read in part, “The Anambra-North Women Empowerment Movement hereby issues stern admonition to the EFCC for its reckless and unprofessional behaviour towards the handling of Obiano’s case.
“We, the women of the state, strongly condemn the vile trending online video clip of the former governor while in the EFCC custody. It is quite obvious that the particular video was taken without his knowledge or consent and as such, this premeditated brouhaha by the EFCC seems to veer into a caricature and witch-hunt, which is a mockery of Nigeria’s judicial due process.”
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