EFCC confirms release of VON boss

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the release of the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, who was detained over alleged fraud.

Okechukwu was released after the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), called on the anti-graft agency to release Okechukwu or charge him to court.

The EFCC detained Okechukwu on 29 January 2022, over a case of conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N1.3bn.

Okechukwu had visited the Abuja headquarters of the anti-graft agency to honour an invitation but he was subsequently detained.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Okechukwu had been released on bail.

“He was released on Monday,” Uwujaren said, even as investigations continue.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement had asked the EFCC to be law-abiding and civil by immediately releasing Okechukwu.

The statement read in part, “Detaining Osita Okechukwu arbitrarily and indefinitely violates Constitutional provision in Section 34 which gives him right to respect to her human dignity.”

The group had called on the EFCC to “release Okechukwu or produce him in the competent court of law to prosecute him legally because Nigeria is not a Banana Republic”.