EFCC denies suspect’s death in custody 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  (EFCC) has said that suspect Asar Sesugh did not die in its custody but was killed in a shootout outside its facility after escaping.

Its Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Oyewale explained that Sesugh was among 26 suspected cyber fraudsters arrested by operatives of the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate on April 28.

He said the suspects were profiled and remanded in custody following a court order obtained at a Magistrate’s Court.

Oyewale said Sesugh and two other suspects escaped from the directorate’s holding facility on May 4, after requesting permission to use the lavatory.

He noted that repeated efforts to re-arrest them proved unsuccessful.

Oyewale said a breakthrough came on May 21, when fresh intelligence indicated that Sesugh was hiding in the Kansho axis of Makurdi.

He said that the operatives  made for the location and upon sighting the team, Sesugh and his suspected cult members opened fire on them.

”Operatives of the commission returned fire in self-defence. All the suspected cult members,  including  Sesugh,  fled owing to the exchange of fire between them and EFCC’s operatives.   However,  Sesugh was later sighted lying in the pool of his blood by the roadside.

”He was promptly taken to the Police Cottage Hospital at the Police Headquarters in Makurdi where he was pronounced dead.”

He said that the commission reported the matter at the Benue State Police Headquarters,  Makurdi and the Police had begun investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his death and making efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the suspected cult.

”Preliminary reports of the findings of the Police have also been released to the public.

”The Commission wishes to state clearly that the suspect did not die in custody and was not on bail at any time.

”While the EFCC expresses its condolences to the family of the deceased suspect, it will not condone any further attack of its Operatives or breach of its internal security by suspects.

 ”The commission assures that it will continue to act in the best interests of the nation.”(NAN)