Nigeria: Trial of former EFCC officer adjourned

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The trial of Polycarp Andrew, a former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officer, has been adjourned until December 11. Andrew is accused of stealing over N22 million from the EFCC’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate, where he served as exhibit keeper.

The case was heard at the Kaduna State High Court, where Justice A. Bello presided. The EFCC’s counsel, H.M. Mohammed, was ready to present two witnesses, including an EFCC officer and an Opay bank official. However, the defence counsel, D.B. Kwajafa, requested an adjournment, citing that he had recently received a flash drive containing Andrew’s extra-judicial statement and needed time to review it.

Andrew was arraigned on May 5 on six counts of criminal breach of trust and pleaded not guilty. He was arrested in Taraba after investigations flagged him as the alleged thief and absconded afterwards. The offence is punishable under the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.