EFCC fires officer accused of stealing N22m exhibits

A Kaduna state high court has adjourned till December 11,2025 the trial of Polycarp Andrew, an former officer of the Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dismissed for allegedly stealing exhibitsworth over N22 million. Andrew, a former exhibit keeper at the EFCC’s Kaduna zonaloffice, was arraigned on May 5, 2025, on a six-count charge bordering oncriminal breach of trust. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, H.M. Mohammed, EFCCcounsel, told the court he was ready to proceed with two witnesses. Heidentified one of the witnesses as an EFCC officer and an official, and anotheras an Opay staff. However, D.B. Kwajafa, defence counsel, said he was notready for trial, arguing that the defendant needed more time to prepare hisdefence. Kwajafa said he had only just received a flash drivecontaining the video recording of Andrew’s extra-judicial statement and soughttime to review it. Mohammed opposed the application, stating that the video wasnot relevant at the current stage of the proceedings. After hearing both parties, A. Bello, presiding judge,adjourned the case to December 11 for trial to commence. Andrew was said to have fled to Taraba state after allegedlydiverting funds kept in his custody as exhibits while serving as exhibit keeperat the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC. According to the charge, he allegedly misappropriatedvarious sums, including $11,900 (about N10.9 million), $3,800 (about N5.9million), and $2,800 (about N3.8 million), all entrusted to him for safekeepingbetween 2023 and 2024. The offences are said to contravene Section 300 of theKaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.

Read More