A new sheriff in the Uyo Zone EFCC has successfully halted a group of people who plotted to swindle a woman.
The married woman and her family who nearly lost properties and millions of naira, filled a petition to the office, which was reviewed by DCDS, Uchenna Edeh.
A leaked document showed that in “August 2020, the Uyo Zonal Office got a change of leadership, and Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent, DCDS Uchenna Edeh was appointed the Zonal Head to superintend over the operational activities of the Zone.
“Mr Edeh who was filled with vigor to surpass previous progress made by predecessors, asked that all cases that may have been laying fallow, be reviewed in order to achieve the success in the fight against Economic and Financial crimes.
“One of the cases that drew the attention of Mr Edeh, was the petition that was reported in July 2019 by Mrs Eno Effiong against the trio of Barrister Dominic Okon, Mrs Emem Emanuel and Augustine Udosen.”
According to the petitioner, these suspects conspired and forged the signature of her deceased biological father, Bassey Effiong Eduok who was critically ill since June 2017 before his demise, and “sold off one of the properties he left behind for the sum of Thirteen Million Naira “N13,000,000.00” only.”
It was alleged that the deceased while alive, accepted Mrs Emem Emmanuel Urua as his foster daughter, because the mother came into his house with the little girl at the age of three (3) years.
However, it was alleged that Mrs Emem took custody of all the properties and documents of the deceased, even though the biological daughter was still alive, but deprived access to all belongings left behind by her late father.
Information available in our record from investigation, revealed that the Power of Attorney used for the sale of the deceased property located at No 208, Calabar-Itu Highway, Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom State, is a subject of scrutiny.
Having conducted a thorough investigation, it was discovered from a Forensics Analysis Report of the documents in question, that the signature used to execute the power of attorney for the sale of the deceased property may have been forged.
Irrespective of the civil aspect of the case in question, the EFCC is saddled with the investigation of Economic and Financial Crimes, as such, the criminal aspect of these allegation is a topmost priority and investigation of crime is not time bound.
During the transaction that led to the alleged illegal sales of the deceased properties, the sum of Ten Million Naira “N10,000,000.00” only was traced to the account of Barrister Dominic Okon, domiciled at Guaranty Trust Bank.
Similarly, Mrs Emem who was the foster daughter to the deceased received the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira “N1,500,000.00” only, which was given to her by the lawyer she was alleged to have introduced as the purported Attorney of the Late Bassey Effiong Eduok.
In furtherance of investigation, it was discovered that a tenant who was in one of the properties of the deceased, Augustine Udosen, a civil defense officer, who benefitted the sum of One Million Naira “N1,000,000.00” only, and assisted in the perpetration of the alleged offence of forgery.
The man used his power in the office to bring in a police to intimidate the family members of the deceased. The police on arrival, realized that a lie, and the woman was the only surviving daughter of the deceased, hence a withdrawal from the case.
Meanwhile, one Wilcox Emmanuel (at large) who happens to be the son of Mrs Emem Emmanuel was given the sum of Five Hundred thousand Naira “N500,000.00” only. But also, he took possession of some of the properties of the deceased, to include a Toyota Sienna 2005 model.
Some of the parties who are relations to Late Bassey Effiong Eduok, and were conversant with the details of the family of the deceased, were interviewed. They have provided useful information on the properties of Late Bassey Effiong Eduok, as well as the supposed beneficiaries of the estate of the deceased accordingly.
Meanwhile, Mrs Emem who was first interviewed by EFCC Uyo in August 2019, was granted an administrative bail and as expected, she was to be reporting to the EFCC routinely until the case is charged to court. However, the suspect ceased reporting (jumped bail) afterwards, until her previous surety was contacted and he produced her on 6th November, 2020. She was granted bail again on 10th November, 2020, where she undertook to produce her son, Wilcox Emmanuel, who is also a suspect and accomplice in the alleged offence that was reported but failed. Thereafter, her bail as a suspect in the case was administratively revoked on 24th November, 2020.
According to the anti-graft body, “it must be abundantly clear that the EFCC in general and Uyo Zonal Office in particular, does not arrest any suspect in place of another, but requires a suspect to produce their accomplices in any offence they may have been alleged to perpetrate, so as to substantiate their claim of innocence as the case may be”.
Also, as a law enforcement agency, “the EFCC has the power to invite anyone who is alleged to have committed any offence, in order to avail them the opportunity and right to defend themselves in a voluntary interview and statement taking”.
