A defendant, Onyekachi Agbo, on Tuesday told the Federal High Court in Enugu that he wrote his confessional statement at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) office involuntarily.

The defendant, who stated this during defence, alleged that seeing EFCC torturing another suspect while in the commission’s cell made him do what they wanted him to do.

“My Lord, the statement I made at EFCC on September 17, 21, 22 and 27, 2021, was written out of fear of being tortured like other suspects.

“They denied my family and lawyer access to see me even when I told them that I could not make my statement without my lawyer to guide me,” the defendant said.

The defendant, who lives at Abakpa Nike Road, Enugu, said he was arrested by the anti-graft agency for alleged internet fraud while squatting with his friends in New Haven, Enugu.

“I am a graphics designer and a student at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. I told them that everything found in my phone was what I used for graphics design work.

“The Gmail they found in my phone was what I use to do the work, and they kept threatening to put me back in the cell if I failed to write my statement the way they wanted,” he told the court.

He further said he was induced to write the statements, adding that he missed his examinations because of the arrest.

“My Lord, I am now a dropout,” he said.

Earlier during cross-examination, the EFCC investigation officer, Zechariah Liberty, said the defendant was brought to their office on September 16, 2021, adding that he and his friends were subjected to forensic analysis.

Mr Liberty said after explaining to him, the defendant wrote his statements voluntarily in an open office.

Meanwhile, the defendant’s lawyer, Patrick Nwosi, also told the court that he was denied access to the defendant at the EFCC office.

However, the presiding judge, F.O.G Ogunbanjo, adjourned the matter till March 23 to adopt written addresses. 

(NAN)