Francis Nzekwesi, a 54 year old detainee of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday died while in detention.
Francis Nzekwesi, a 54 year old detainee of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday died while in detention.
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Family members of Francis told Saharareporters that he slumped in an EFCC detention cell in Ikoyi Lagos. He was later rushed to the military hospital in the area where he died last night in the presence of his ninth wife, and but the EFCC claimed that he died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Francis had been in EFCC detention since August 16, 2010 over a case of fraud brought to the commission by a 419 victim who claimed that the late Francis defrauded him of N120million ($800,000). He said the monies were obtained under false pretences as the deceased approached his victim with a fictitious refinery project he was executing on behalf on a state government in the Southeast.
EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi confirmed to Saharareporters today that the deceased was involved in a fraud case in 2009 over the setting up of a state refinery. He allegedly showed an MOU with a state government,” he said.
Mr. Babafemi also said that Francis was arrested in 2009 and granted bail, but that for over year he jumped bail until his re-arrest in August 2010.
The EFCC spokesperson claimed that Francis's re-arrest was spurred by another report that he duped a different person of N25 million.
He was arrested at the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja after an EFCC official posed as his new client.
On October 16, 2010 he was charged to court in Lagos. The deceased was then remanded in EFCC custody following a plea bargain to return the money he had duped.
But family members told Saharareporters that the death of Francis happened because he was detained for a long period of time without trial as EFCC officials insisted on collecting "10%" of the amount he had duped his victim. They alleged that while in detention he was tortured and denied medical treatment as his health deteriorated. The aggrieved family members claimed that Francis fell ill last Thursday but was denied medical treatment until his condition becomes irreversible last night.
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