Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday provided more facts in the face-off it had with the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, in Kaduna State.
The Head, Media and Publicity, the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, recalled in a statement on Friday, that operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Commission on Monday, November 13, 2023, arrested five suspected internet fraudster at a residential Inn and Disney Chicken Eatery, Barnawa, Kaduna following credible intelligence.
According to the statement, the suspected fraudsters, Favour Itung, Rachael Ande, Zuleiman Haruna, Abubakar Ismaila and Solomon Olobatoke, were arrested without incident.
He said after the sting operation, six military personnel who witnessed the operation at Disney Chicken Eatery, invaded the Kaduna Command and attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects.
Oyewale explained that they were subdued and detained over the security breach.
“The intruders are four Air Force personnel : Lawal Abdullahi, Chukwuma Chidi Christian, Alfa Suleiman and Emmanuel Ekwozor, and two students of Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology, AFIT: Chidera Anuba and Joseph Tokula.” He said.
According to Oyewale, while in detention, there were inter- agency communication and discussions by the leadership of the EFCC and the Nigerian Air Force, NAF to resolve the issues.
“Unfortunately, dialogue on the release of the combative Air Force personnel broke down on Friday, November 17, 2023 when some unruly NAF Officers stormed the Kaduna Command in a commando- style, to forcefully release their detained colleagues.
“The EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation and flagrant abuse of power. The Commission continued to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Air Force and released the officers to the NAF Provost after they had been duly profiled.
“The EFCC wishes to assure the public that it will continue to carry out its statutory mandate of tackling all cases of economic and financial crimes, without let or hindrance.” The statement said.