Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission[EFCC], has washed its hands off the recent deportation of the embattled ex-Bayelsa chief executive by authorities of the United Arab Emirates[UAE], dismissing the allegations by the Ijaw Monitoring Group as tendentious and wicked.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission[EFCC], has washed its hands off the recent deportation of the embattled ex-Bayelsa chief executive by authorities of the United Arab Emirates[UAE], dismissing the allegations by the Ijaw Monitoring Group as tendentious and wicked.
The Commission denied chaining former governor of Bayelsa state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha to an iron rod on a bare floor at its detention centre in Lagos .
EFCC spokesman, Osita Nwajah, said in a statement in Abuja , that Alamieyeseigha, who is standing trail over alleged financial misappropriation and money laundering, was taken to the UAE for medical treatment and on completion of the course of treatment, was discharged by the hospital.
He did not however, clarify whether the former governor returned to the country on his own, or if the Nigerian authorities including the EFCC, was involved in the process of his return to the country. The statement reads:
' The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to newspaper publications of Thursday, 19 July 2007, relating to the alleged orchestrated ‘deportation' and inhuman treatment of DSP Alamieyeseigha, former executive governor of Bayelsa State, who is remanded by order of court, in the custody of the Commission.
Several of the papers led with the insinuation that the Nigerian authorities acting through the Commission, may have instigated the eviction of Mr. Alamieyeseigha, for ostensible 'security breach''.
EFCC wishes to state in clear terms, that there is no strand of truth in these insinuations and allegations.
The Commission wishes to further clarify that Alamieyeseigha, who is standing trial was taken to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for medical treatment and on completion of his course of treatment, was discharged by the hospital.
The Nigerian authorities (including the EFCC) did not suggest or teleguide the UAE medical and other authorities to send the accused person back to Nigeria .
Further, the Commission decries the attempt by one Joseph Eva ostensibly speaking on behalf of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG), to employ the instrumentality of cheap blackmail to railroad the judiciary into a predetermined position and confuse the Nigerian people.
IMG's allegation that since his return, Alamieyeseigha has been 'chained to an iron rod in his cell, made to sleep on the bare floor and denied access to his family members and doctors," is to say the least, tendentious and wicked.
EFCC has NEVER chained anyone in its holding facilities, has no need to chain anyone and will never chain anyone, least of all, DSP Alamieyeseigha, who it must be restated, is in the custody of the Commission on order of court. In the same vein, Alamieyeseigha, like any other accused person in the custody of the Commission is given all social, medical and legal facilities as stipulated by law.
Attention-seeking and mischief-engineering individuals and groups are reminded of that cheap blackmail has never worked on EFCC. The Commission will continue to carry out its functions in the best traditions of law enforcement and fully within the ambit the Rule of Law",