Date Published: 03/19/10

Gunmen attack EFCC Operatives, kill one others in hospital 

Unknown gunmen Friday shot dead an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr. Eze Edoga.

Also, four others are currently on danger-list in a hospital whose identity is kept under wraps. 

They were attacked somewhere in Imo state on their way from an assignment.

This came few hours after the commission raised an alarm alleging plans by some elements to stop the EFCC.

According to the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the operatives were returning from a court session involving the ongoing trial of Mr. Herbert Chikwe, the husband of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Netherlands, Mrs. Kema Chikwe.

Babafemi said: "While our operatives were returning from the hearing of the trial of the husband of a former Minister of Aviation at the Federal High Court in Owerri to Enugu , they were ambushed in a town called Isiala-Mbano.

"The armed men thereafter opened fire on the innocent operatives and killed one of our officers, Mr. Eze Edoga.

"Four others are on danger-list in a hospital whose name I won’t disclose to you for security reasons. If these hoodlums know the hospital, they might still go and attack our severely injured men.

"The EFCC chairman is on top of the situation and she has ordered that the best treatment be given to those critically injured."

Responding to a question, Babafemi added: "We won’t allow any intimidation or killing of our operatives. This incident cannot also deter us from doing our duties.

"Investigation has started into the attack. But it is a confirmation of our alarm that some suspects on trial are becoming desperate."

The EFCC had on December 19, 2009 arraigned Chikwe in court for alleged N40 million fraud.

According to the commission, Chikwe was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Owerri on Friday.

The suspect was arraigned on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque totalling N40 million.

The accused person was said to have fraudulently sold three plots of land to one Chief Innocent Obi in Owerri.