Fraud suspect dies in EFCC’s custody

ABUJA—Tragedy has hit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after a suspect in its custody, suddenly developed chest pains, and died.

Arowofela Olufemi, who was being investigated by the commission following allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that he fraudulently converted over N100 million dividend warrants to himself, died in a military hospital, where he was rushed to by officials of the EFCC.

A statement made available to Vanguard yesterday indicated that Olufemi had complained of chest pains early in the day and was rushed to an unnamed military hospital in Lagos, where he gave up the ghost before doctors could attend to him.

The EFCC statement was signed by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who said  the cause of the suspect’s death was unknown as at the time of going to the press.

Uwujaren said: “The cause of the sudden death is yet to be ascertained even as the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. The family of the deceased has already been notified of the incident while the matter has been reported to the Onikan Division of the Nigeria Police.”

It will be recalled that the late Olufemi was arrested following a complaint by the SEC, alleging that he was involved in fraudulent conversion of dividend warrants of over N100 million.

Following the report by SEC, operatives of EFCC arrested him at the premises of a bank while attempting to cash alleged stolen dividend warrants.

After his arrest and detention, he was offered administrative bail but could not produce a surety to perfect his bail thereby leading to extended incarceration.

Source:Vanguard