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A fresh rift may be brewing between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force over the custody and handling of two suspects involved in a reported microfinance bank glitch case.
Naija News reports that the suspects, Illesanmi Olaniyi and Ishola Maruf, were initially arrested by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja on March 17, 2024, and subsequently granted administrative bail, a condition that, according to their lawyers, remains valid.
Their counsel, Khadijah Bayern, alleged that following their bail, two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and a Toyota RAV4, along with several documents, goods, and personal items, were seized and remain in police custody. A forfeiture case regarding the seized assets is currently before the court.
In a petition to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Bayern accused the EFCC of re-arresting her clients over the same matter already being handled by the police and before the court.
The petition, titled Double Jeopardy and Intimidation, alleged that the suspects have now spent over 12 days in EFCC custody without bail or proper medical attention.
“Multiple arrests by different agencies on the same matter risk derailing the legal process,” Bayern warned, urging the AGF to intervene in the interest of justice.
In a separate letter dated July 29, 2025, another lawyer representing the duo wrote to the Director of the EFCC’s Special Duty Section 2 (SDC2), requesting more flexible bail terms for the suspects.
The letter requested that the Commission accept civil servants on Grade Level 14 or 15 as sureties, as opposed to the higher-ranking officers previously required. It also highlighted the suspects’ cardiovascular ailments, stating they require consistent medical supervision.
The legal team reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate with the EFCC and appealed for consideration based on humanitarian grounds.
Reacting to the allegations, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, dismissed claims of harassment, saying the agency only acts on actionable intelligence.
“There is no way the commission will deploy its resources to investigate a matter already with the police if there are no fresh angles,” Oyewale said.
He also clarified that suspects could be held beyond the statutory 48 hours if the commission obtains a remand warrant from a magistrates court.
“The EFCC does not harass or intimidate anyone. We operate strictly within the ambit of the law,” Oyewale added.
The post EFCC, Police Clash Over Suspect Custody In Microfinance Glitch Case appeared first on Naija News.
