Elombah.com
On Saturday, November 19, 2011, 6 EFCC operatives and a mobile police officer arrested 3 men in Lagos for alleged defrauding an American. The name of one of the men arrested is Ovie Saturday an indigene of Delta State. Upon arresting these men, the EFCC officials began aggressive interrogation of them. They threatened to kill the men unless they confessed to the offences alleged. They gave them sheets of paper to write their statements.
However, the men were not allowed to write their statements as they wanted, but were forced to incriminate themselves. After the ordeals of the first day, the men were thrown into the EFCC cell in Okotie Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.
On Monday, November, 21, in the morning, the three men were again taken to the EFCC offices for further interrogation. During the interrogation, the EFCC officers insisted that Ovie should admit in writing that he committed the offense.
When Ovie refused and insisted on his innocence, the leader of the team of the officials pounced on him and began to punch him all over his head and face. The name of the officer that attacked Ovie is Phillip. He is the head of Team D. he is a police officer on secondment to EFCC.
Other EFCC officers present at the scene include Emeka Ukpai, who is designated Investigating Police Officer. As Phillip hit Ovie, Emeka held Ovie's hands so he could not try to deflect the blows from Phillip.
Ovie sustained serious injuries from the incident. Since the incident, Ovie has been sick. He has not been able to eat as he could not move his jaws without great pains. His stuation has worsened today.
This afternoon, it was discovered by other inmates that Ovie's right ear was emitting colored fluid and his pillow and mattress were all soaked with this fluid. As they tried to help him, it was discovered that he could no longer stand on his feet. So, the inmates called the attention of the guards. They all believe it would take a miracle for Ovie to survive this. His condition is reported to be very extremely bad.
After about 4 hours of waiting for medical attention to come for Ovie, EFCC officials came to the cell and carried Ovie away. N one knows what to expect. But judging from EFCC's antecedents, they will be more interested in covering up the outrageous conducts of their officials rather than saving the life of this poor boy.
Phillip's behavior in this occasion is not an isolated behavior. He is notorious for assaulting and torturing suspects and forcing them to confess to crimes they are accused of. Phillip has never been disciplined for such conducts. Rather he has been rewarded with an elevation to the position of a Team Leader. As far as the practice of EFCC goes, Phillip represents the idea officer.
As long as he forces suspects to confess, he produces result for EFCC, with which they burnish their success indicators. Mr. Phillip is one of Mrs. Farida Waziri's best officers and will remain so as long as he continues to uphold the culture of force, intimidation and torture.
This report was written by an inmate who has chosen to withhold his name to avoid being tortured some more. The inmate shall disclose his name once he is out of detention or once Phillip is relieved of his position in EFCC and Nigerian Police.
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