EFCC doesn’t torture suspects –Magu

The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday maintained that the anti-graft agency does not torture suspects in its custody, to obtain confessional statements from them...

This was as Magu further stated that the EFCC has the best detention facilities in the country. The EFCC boss made the disclosure in Abuja, when he took journalists on a guided tour of detention cells and other facilities at the commission’s headquarters.

The assessment tour was meant to clear the air on reports of alleged torture of suspects in custody. Apart from a physical assessment of the cells, journalists were also taken to the interrogation room, as well as a two-bed clinic. 

While the cells were generally neat and spacious, some detainees inside were seen reading newspapers, while two others observed the Muslim prayers.

“Our detention camp is one of the best; in fact, it is the best in the country.

Any other time, if you have doubt, you can go into our cell. “We don’t torture people; our kind of interrogation is non-torture one,” Magu said. He added that the commission undertakes a lot of background checks and other procedural requirements, before inviting a suspect.

“I’m telling you, If EFCC invites you, we have done a lot of background checks,” he said. On criticisms trailing some of its actions, Magu noted that “criticisms give us room for corrections”, assuring that “there is room for adjustment.”

According to him, “We are ready to adjust; we work in the interest of this country.” The EFCC chairman, however, insisted that the interest of Nigeria was bigger than an individual or group. A detainee, who spoke with New Telegraph, confirmed that there was no case of torture in the cell.

The suspect, who is the “president” of the cell, said “I’m here in respect of a N37, 000 case.” Earlier, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Osita Nwaja, had stated that police officers seconded to the EFCC undergo Lie Detector (polygraph) test, adding that officers, who failed the rigorous test, were sent back