Gunmen shoot detective probing judges, others

EFCC investigator receives treatment for gunshot
wounds

Gunmen have shot a top Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) investigator, Mr. Austin Okwor.

The victim was said to be handling some “sensitive” cases,
including those of some judicial officers.

But the EFCC said Okwor, who escaped death by the whiskers, was
responding to treatment. He had been receiving threat messages
before the incident.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft
agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the incident had been reported to
the police for investigation.

The statement said: “A top investigator with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 24, 2017 escaped death
by the whiskers when gunmen opened fire on him in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

“Mr. Austin Okwor, an operative in the Property Fraud Section of
the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt, had closed late for the day
and as he left office, he was suddenly accosted by a gang of
daredevil hoodlums who opened fire on him.

“Luckily for him, he was able to shake off his assailants but
not without sustaining some bullet wounds as they kept firing at
him. He was rushed to a private hospital in Port Harcourt where he
is receiving treatment.

“According to Ishaq Salihu, Head of the Zonal office, the
incident has already been reported to the Police in Port
Harcourt.

“Okwor is one of the operatives investigating some sensitive
cases, including that pertaining to corrupt judicial officials.

“Before the incident, the officer had been receiving threat
messages. One of such messages, which he received sometime in May
2017, was reported to the Police.

“This incident underlines the hazards which operatives of the
Commission are daily exposed to in the discharge of their
duties.

“In 2010, precisely September 14, the head of the Commission’s
Forensic Unit, Abdullahi Muazu, was shot and killed by unknown
gunmen in Kaduna.

“Six months earlier, a team of prosecutors returning to Enugu
after a court appearance in Owerri, Imo State was attacked by
gunmen who opened fire on them. Sergeant Eze Edoga, the police
escort, was cut down while a senior counsel with the Commission,
Joseph Uzor, was critically wounded but survived.”

EFCC investigator receives treatment for gunshot
wounds

Gunmen have shot a top Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) investigator, Mr. Austin Okwor.

The victim was said to be handling some “sensitive” cases,
including those of some judicial officers.

But the EFCC said Okwor, who escaped death by the whiskers, was
responding to treatment. He had been receiving threat messages
before the incident.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft
agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the incident had been reported to
the police for investigation.

The statement said: “A top investigator with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 24, 2017 escaped death
by the whiskers when gunmen opened fire on him in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

“Mr. Austin Okwor, an operative in the Property Fraud Section of
the EFCC Zonal office in Port Harcourt, had closed late for the day
and as he left office, he was suddenly accosted by a gang of
daredevil hoodlums who opened fire on him.

“Luckily for him, he was able to shake off his assailants but
not without sustaining some bullet wounds as they kept firing at
him. He was rushed to a private hospital in Port Harcourt where he
is receiving treatment.

“According to Ishaq Salihu, Head of the Zonal office, the
incident has already been reported to the Police in Port
Harcourt.

“Okwor is one of the operatives investigating some sensitive
cases, including that pertaining to corrupt judicial officials.

“Before the incident, the officer had been receiving threat
messages. One of such messages, which he received sometime in May
2017, was reported to the Police.

“This incident underlines the hazards which operatives of the
Commission are daily exposed to in the discharge of their
duties.

“In 2010, precisely September 14, the head of the Commission’s
Forensic Unit, Abdullahi Muazu, was shot and killed by unknown
gunmen in Kaduna.

“Six months earlier, a team of prosecutors returning to Enugu
after a court appearance in Owerri, Imo State was attacked by
gunmen who opened fire on them. Sergeant Eze Edoga, the police
escort, was cut down while a senior counsel with the Commission,
Joseph Uzor, was critically wounded but survived.”