Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, has raised concerns over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) official statement regarding the tragic death of Assistant Superintendent Aminu Sahabi Salisu. Salisu was reportedly shot on January 17, 2025, during an operation targeting suspected internet fraudsters in Ifite, Awka, Anambra State.
Effiong criticized the EFCC’s statement, describing it as lacking in substance and filled with trivialities. He pointed out that the agency failed to provide clear details about the involvement of the suspect, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, in fraudulent activities. According to Effiong, the EFCC has not disclosed the specific reasons behind the raid on Ikechukwu’s residence, nor the exact time the operation took place.
“The insinuation that the doctor is into internet fraud simply because of his business of coding and selling or marketing medical supplies makes a ridicule of the agency,” Effiong remarked, questioning the basis of the allegations against the suspect.
He further argued that the EFCC’s statement suggests that Ikechukwu might not have been the original target of the operation, but was instead implicated due to his residence in the raided two-story building. Effiong also expressed skepticism over the claim that 37 suspected internet fraudsters were apprehended from the same building, questioning the logistical plausibility of such a scenario.
“How many flats does the building have? Are the alleged fraudsters living in groups, or were they having some sort of meeting?” Effiong asked, highlighting inconsistencies in the EFCC’s narrative.
The lawyer also challenged the EFCC’s assertion that Ikechukwu monitored the operation via CCTV before allegedly opening fire on the officers. Effiong called for the release of CCTV footage to substantiate the claim and questioned whether the EFCC operatives were wearing uniforms at the time of the raid.
“You claim that he saw your operatives on CCTV, and still opened fire on them after they ‘politely demanded’ that he should open his door. Why not put out the evidence for the public to see given the gravity of the matter?” Effiong queried.
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He further criticized the EFCC for the delay in releasing their statement, suggesting that the timing undermines its credibility. “The fact that it took this long to issue this statement says a lot about the credibility of the statement,” he stated.
Effiong’s comments have raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of EFCC’s operations, particularly given the agency’s prior statement that it had discontinued late-night sting operations. As investigations into the incident progress, the public eagerly awaits further clarification from the EFCC.”
