Suspect dies after 6 hours in EFCC custody

Desmond Nunugwo, a suspect who was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over allegations of fraud, has died after spending six hours in EFCC custody.

Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, disclosed this on Friday, saying Nunugwo was taken into custody on Thursday, but died a few hours later.

Uwujaren said Nunugwo’s demise was confirmed at a hospital where he was rushed to after he suddenly took ill.

“The late Nunugwu allegedly fraudulently obtained N91m from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates who were at the verge of buying Nicon Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business,” Uwujaren said in a statement.

“Consequently, she wired N91m into Nunugwo’s nominated account (Mainagge General Merchants) in Diamond Bank. After the transfer of the funds, Nunugwo became evasive forcing the complainant to report the transaction to the EFCC.”

Uwujaren said after his arrest, the suspect confessed to transferring N30 million out of the money to Norway, but could not account for the balance.

He added that the incident had already been reported at Wuse police station in Abuja, where investigation has commenced.

“Consequently, Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja at about 5:33pm on Thursday, June 9, 2016. His statement was taken, where he admitted receiving the money from the complainant, with the additional information that he transferred N30m of the said money to Norway. But he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.

“The suspect was detained at about 7:30pm, in the absence of anybody to take him on bail.

“Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”