Oba of Benin accuses EFCC of allegedly taking bribe to frustrate petition

The Oba of Benin has accused the EFCC of taking bribes to thwart his petition against fraudulent palace personnel.

Oba Ewuare II of Benin has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of facilitating crime.

On Monday, May 20, the king made the claims while receiving the new Benin Zonal Director of EFCC, Effa Okim, at his palace in Benin.

According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Ighobaro, the monarch mentioned a specific criminal case involving anonymous former palace officials who were detained for alleged fraud and handed over to the EFCC in Benin for investigation and prosecution.

The Oba claimed that some EFCC agents handled the matter with kid gloves, resulting in the release of the perpetrators a few years ago.

The monarch, who did not name the royal personnel, expressed surprise that the EFCC investigators allegedly swept glaring evidence of foul play against them (the palace officials) under the carpet.

“We want to draw your attention to one or two grey areas in your operations.

No matter how much you try to support the EFFC from the palace, It is very difficult because they seem to listen to other parties. What I have been told is that they take instructions from the highest bidder.

You know that I have been known for speaking the truth. I was not happy about certain things that happened with your predecessor.

We get news from everywhere. We try to assist the EFCC. I even wrote a letter to the then-chairman who was removed from office.

I even sent an emissary to talk to him regarding certain elements in Edo State, particularly the palace.

How can EFCC operatives, especially, the lady who handled the case I cited earlier behave like that? If I was asked to comment on her performance, I would score her zero. I do not know if she was doing an EFCC job or just dancing to the tunes of people who were giving her money.

At the time we were trying to assist EFCC, the report we kept getting was negative and I was not happy about it,” Oba Ewuare II said.