The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has
launched an investigation into the alleged assault of Ms Mnena Ato,
the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Shawarma,
Makurdi, Benue State.
The EFCC said in a statement by its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale,
that it is not the character of the commission to assault innocent
citizens.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the EFCC has been
drawn to reports of a recent arrest made by its officers at a
pastry firm in Makurdi, Benue State, involving Ms Mnena Ato,
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Shawarma.
“The commission has commenced investigations into the
circumstances of her arrest and would leave no stone unturned in
ensuring that all facts related to the arrest are unearthed. It is
not in the character of the EFCC to act arbitrarily and the
Commission is always guided by global best practices in its
operations.
“The commission wishes to assure members of the public of its
commitment to best professional practices and excellent conduct of
all its men and officers.”
The commission said appropriate sanctions would be placed on
whoever is found to have acted out of character regarding the Benue
arrest.
Ato had told newsmen that she and her workers were assaulted by
EFCC officials following a disagreement over a N1, 600
transaction.
Narrating what led to the invasion of her office and their
subsequent arrest, Ato said an officer of the EFCC had visited her
shop to purchase an item worth N1,500.
She explained that the officer decided to pay for the item
through bank transfer and instead of N1,500, she ended up
transferring N1,600 to the company’s account, adding that the
company did not get an alert for the transaction but it allowed the
buyer to leave because it believed in the customer’s
explanation.
Ato stated, “So, when the accountant did not receive the alert
for the payment of N1,500, he decided to draw the attention of the
sales boy to it and directed him to contact the EFCC officer to
inform her of the development.
“The rule of the company is that if any customer purchases an
item from a salesperson and the salesperson fails to collect money
and there is shortfall in revenue, such shall be deducted from the
salary of the salesperson.
“It is on this that my worker continued calling the officer to
remind her of the payment.
“This transaction took place on April 9, 2020, but when we
finally got the statement from the bank, there was no shortfall in
revenue and the person, who sold the item to the EFCC officer, got
his full salary at the end of the month and I directed the
salesperson to call the officer and apologise to her.
“Less than 20 minutes after my employee had carried out my
instructions, operatives from the EFCC office came and occupied my
company premises, insisting on picking me, the accountant and the
salesman.
“All my pleas fell on their deaf ears and at the end of the day,
I was picked up alongside my accountant and the salesman. We slept
in their detention facility and we were released on administrative
bail on Saturday.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has
launched an investigation into the alleged assault of Ms Mnena Ato,
the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Shawarma,
Makurdi, Benue State.
The EFCC said in a statement by its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale,
that it is not the character of the commission to assault innocent
citizens.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the EFCC has been
drawn to reports of a recent arrest made by its officers at a
pastry firm in Makurdi, Benue State, involving Ms Mnena Ato,
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Shawarma.
“The commission has commenced investigations into the
circumstances of her arrest and would leave no stone unturned in
ensuring that all facts related to the arrest are unearthed. It is
not in the character of the EFCC to act arbitrarily and the
Commission is always guided by global best practices in its
operations.
“The commission wishes to assure members of the public of its
commitment to best professional practices and excellent conduct of
all its men and officers.”
The commission said appropriate sanctions would be placed on
whoever is found to have acted out of character regarding the Benue
arrest.
Ato had told newsmen that she and her workers were assaulted by
EFCC officials following a disagreement over a N1, 600
transaction.
Narrating what led to the invasion of her office and their
subsequent arrest, Ato said an officer of the EFCC had visited her
shop to purchase an item worth N1,500.
She explained that the officer decided to pay for the item
through bank transfer and instead of N1,500, she ended up
transferring N1,600 to the company’s account, adding that the
company did not get an alert for the transaction but it allowed the
buyer to leave because it believed in the customer’s
explanation.
Ato stated, “So, when the accountant did not receive the alert
for the payment of N1,500, he decided to draw the attention of the
sales boy to it and directed him to contact the EFCC officer to
inform her of the development.
“The rule of the company is that if any customer purchases an
item from a salesperson and the salesperson fails to collect money
and there is shortfall in revenue, such shall be deducted from the
salary of the salesperson.
“It is on this that my worker continued calling the officer to
remind her of the payment.
“This transaction took place on April 9, 2020, but when we
finally got the statement from the bank, there was no shortfall in
revenue and the person, who sold the item to the EFCC officer, got
his full salary at the end of the month and I directed the
salesperson to call the officer and apologise to her.
“Less than 20 minutes after my employee had carried out my
instructions, operatives from the EFCC office came and occupied my
company premises, insisting on picking me, the accountant and the
salesman.
“All my pleas fell on their deaf ears and at the end of the day,
I was picked up alongside my accountant and the salesman. We slept
in their detention facility and we were released on administrative
bail on Saturday.”