The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered an audit of its exhibit room across all its commands following the discovery of missing items in cash and jewelry, believed to have been carted away by officers in charge.
According to ShaharaReporters there have been theft cases in the EFCC Lagos and Kaduna commands and this has unsettled the anti-graft agency. In Kaduna it has been reported that an officer has made away with valuables including $30,000 cash and has been on the run.
This is coming on the heels of reported missing gold bars worth over N1 billion and foreign currencies in the sum of $180,000 and £140,000, which vanished from the Lagos command. Before this it was also reported that between $350,000 and $400,000 had gone missing, along with expensive jewelry and other valuable items.
“All zonal heads have been directed to carry out an evaluation of exhibits in their custody and report back to the National Headquarters,” SaharaReporters quoted sources within the agency on Wednesday.
“For instance, EFCC operatives seized vehicles and money from one Mr Patrick Shanchi Nwokike, owner of Let’s Partner With You, a financial institution. He was accused of operating without a license. After confiscating his property and money, sued him at the Federal High Court.
“Sometime last year, the court discharged and acquitted him but up till today, EFCC could not produce the cars seized from him. EFCC took some money. They even went to people who had some money from him based on records they have and took away the money but did not record same when they (EFCC) sued.”
“The EFCC operatives also went to his in-law and collected several millions of naira from him and some other people. They even went to the bank and forced the bank to give them money. At the end of the day, the money and vehicles disappeared,” the source said.
“That’s how bad EFCC operatives have become. I hope someday the man would be able to muster the courage to tell his story. I am not holding brief for him.”
