The Federal Government has been urged to investigate alleged torture and illegal detention of the Managing Director of Kafisto Oil and Gas Ltd, Mr. Uwem Antia and his business partner, Alhaji Suleiman Yerima by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.
He was allegedly detained over a N627 million foreign exchange deal, which purportedly belonged to former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
Yerima, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, said he had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase on the alleged inhuman treatment and torture meted out to them while in EFCC detention for 80 days without trial.
The businessman alleged that his partner, Antia, was tortured, beaten and his legs broken by EFCC operatives in Lagos in an attempt to force him to confess to an offence he did not commit.
But EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren denied the allegations.
Yerima alleged that despite a court order that his lawyer be contacted any time the EFCC needed his attention, the operatives went into his ex-wife house in Lagos, took her away with a Mercedes Car belonging to him.
He added that till now, the whereabouts of his former wife is unknown.
The businessman accused the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, the Director of Operation of EFCC in Lagos, Iliyasu Kwarbai and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Joseph Mbu, of violating their fundamental rights over a business transaction that was legitimately carried out without any of the parties involved complaining.
The businessman said he was approached by Antia, who brought customers to him, to raise dollars for him, saying N627 million had been paid into his (Antia’s) account and that he should source the dollar equivalent.
Yerima said he raised $1 million that day and gave same to Mr. Gladys Aginwa and Dennis Ale, who acknowledged receipt in their handwriting.
He said the balance of $2.250 million was raised the following day and paid to Dennis and Aginwa, which they equally acknowledged in their handwriting.
Yerima explained that he was surprised when the EFCC operatives invaded his house and that of his friend and arrested them on allegation that he defrauded some people in a forex deal.
He said it was in the course of investigations that the EFCC operatives alleged that the money belonged to the former first lady.
The businessman added that the EFCC demanded the original copies of the documents regarding the transaction, but they refused for fears that they could be destroyed.
He said they insisted they would make them available only in court, adding that it was at this point that the EFCC operatives began to torture them.
Yerima alleged that his life and that of his partner were in danger and urged the President to expedite action on his petition.
He described the leadership of the EFCC as corrupt, alleging that its top operatives demanded $500,000 dollars from them.
However, the spokesperson of the EFCC dismissed the allegations against top officials of the agency.
Uwujaren referred to an EFCC statement dated March 9, this year, saying Yerima and Antia are fraudsters and would be arraigned accordingly pending conclusion of investigation.
He said the EFCC does not torture or maltreat accused persons.
He added that the duo were yet to pay the balance of $2.250 million dollars to the other businessmen.
Uwujaren alleged that it amounted to cheap blackmail on the part of the accused persons to petition the president that top officials of the anti-graft agency were demanding bribe from them.
TheNation
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