TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will investigate the incident that led to the arrest of Mnena Ato, a businesswoman and chief executive officer of Star Shawarma, a pastry restaurant in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Ato had narrated how she was arrested by EFCC officials over a N1,600 transaction.

Narrating her ordeal, Ato, who was arrested alongside her accountant and salesboy, said a staff of the commission had visited her restaurant on April 9 to purchase items worth N1,500.

She said the customer opted to make payment through mobile transfer and ended up transferring N1,600.

Ato said although the company did not receive an alert for the transaction, the customer was allowed to leave.

“So, when the accountant did not receive the alert for the payment of N1,500, he decided to draw the attention of the salesboy to it and directed him to contact the EFCC officer to inform her of the development,” she said.

“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 a 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.”

The businesswoman said eventually the bank statement revealed that the transaction was made and the salesperson called the customer to apologise.

“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,” she explained.

“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 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.

“I don’t want to dwell more on the matter because we are trying to resolve it. My manager and the accountant have been directed to report today (Monday) and it is after that, I will be able to speak further.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has said it has commenced proper investigation into the issue.

In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s head of media and publicity, said: “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.

“As the commission continues to pursue its mandate of ridding the nation of economic and financial crimes, appropriate sanctions would be placed on whoever is found to have acted out of character regarding the Benue arrest.”