The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, on Wednesday revealed the reason for the prosecution of popular musician, Afeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley.
A statement by EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, quoted Magu as saying Naira Marley was picked up over internet fraud charges and not because he is a musician.
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The chairman also made it clear that the EFCC did not arrest innocent people and that they worked on information to carry out their activities.
He said:
“Let me use this opportunity to emphasize that we have no issues with any member of this very important sector of the country.
“I have said it in the past and I will also like to restate, that the EFCC does not go after any innocent person. Our mandate is to rid Nigeria of any form of economic and financial crimes, and internet fraud is not excluded.
“There is always intelligence report that our officers get and investigate before effecting a warrant of arrest, and we don’t arrest innocent people”.
He noted that the concern for the increasing cases of internet fraud, prompted him early in the year, to constitute a Task Team given the task to stem the tide of internet fraud in the country.
“This Task Team has since swung into action, and the outcome of what you have is the increasing cases and report of EFCC operatives rounding up internet fraudsters across the country,” he added.
He, however, noted with concern that “I don’t like arresting them, but what can we do, we have to do our job.
“While I restate our commitment to continue the intensity of rounding up internet fraudsters, I strongly urge you all to join hands with the EFCC to promote the culture and gospel of hard work with dignity”.
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