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The 52-year-old Italian took his life in a bathroom by strangling himself with a bedsheet in the EFCC detention facility in Abuja on Tuesday, a day before his scheduled arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The agency confirmed the development in a statement issued by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujiaren.
It reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC regrets to announce the passing of 52-year-old Italian, Mr. Mauro Zanin, a suspected fraudster two days before he was scheduled to appear in court.
“He was found motionless in the bathroom of the Commission’s detention facility in Abuja at about 4.50 am on June 19, 2012. He had apparently committed suicide using his bedsheet.
“All efforts by the duty officers and a team of EFCC medical personnel led by Dr. Gideon Osi of the commission’s Medical Unit to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation proved futile. He was subsequently certified dead at about 5.45 am.
“Though all clues point to suicide, the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police Station, Maitama for investigation.
“The deceased was arrested by Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he fraudulently obtained the sum of $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited, and transferred to the commission on 30th May, 2012 for further investigation.
“The commission had filed a five count charge against him in court and got a Wednesday, June 20, 2012 as hearing date. He was served the court papers to prepare his defence yesterday.
“His arrest was officially communicated to the Italian Embassy on 31st May, 2012. The same day, the suspect was granted provisional bail, but he could not get a surety to take him on bail.
“While in detention, Mr. Zanin was visited on May 30, 2012, by Mr. Nicola Bazzani, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy; and everyday by his lawyer, Mr.Ugochukwu Onyejiuto. “ It is important to say that I took this matter pro bono, with the hope that he will pay my fees when he is free. I was spending my money feeding him… to my amazement; he refused to let his family know what was going on. He has a 30 year-old son who is a lawyer in Italy but he was always telling them all was well”, Onyejiuto said.
“Zanin took his own life a day to his scheduled arraignment. He was supposed to be arraigned before the Federal High Court (5) in Abuja on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.
“Dr. Mma Wokocha, the complainant expressed shock at the news of the death of the suspect, wondering how she would recover the huge sum of money obtained from her by the deceased. However, she absolved the Commission of any blame in the death of the suspect.
“Nobody should blame the EFCC. The Commission has done what it has to do, you cannot blame the EFCC…there was total human care for this guy,” she said.
Facts of the Case
The deceased, a confirmed fraudster, allegedly obtained the money from Wokocha under the guise of selling used Dredger Italgraghe SGT 200 to them, to execute some dredging contract in the Niger Delta. The suspect sent them a Bill of Laden but their long wait for the ship, MSC Trinidad to berth was futile. Unknown to the complainant the Bill of Laden was forged as the ship indicated had ceased to exist long before they ever met the deceased three years ago.
The remains of the suspect have been deposited at the mortuary awaiting an autopsy.
Wilson Uwujaren
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IN NIGERIA; ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. ARE U SORE THIS MAN KILLED HIMSELF?
ReplyDeleteNo. You killed him. An evil white man who preferred death to having the money recovered from him did what he knew how to do best and you are there asking some foolish questions. How many of ur yahoo cohorts have they killed in EFCC custody?
DeleteLawyers sha! How can you claim to have taken a case pro bono and still expect to get paid?
ReplyDeleteMy friend go and further your understanding of the word "pro bono" before you comment!
ReplyDeleteItalian and kurukere life.
ReplyDeleteWe'r ar jst kids in yahoo biz, its owend by the Americans,Lebanes,Russians nd Italians
Note the confusion between these two quotes: "...following a complaint by one Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie..." "Dr. Mma Wokocha, the complainant expressed shock at the news of the death of the suspect, wondering how she would recover the huge sum of money obtained from her..."
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me who the complainant is? What is the connection between "Gladwaters Nigeria Ltd and the two people above. Let the reporters know that some of us who read NigeriaEye are discriminating readers, and not feed us hogwash. Then the lawyer who said he is doing a pro bono case, how can he be expecting payment. Pro bono is Latin for "For Good", or simply "charity".
We're jst kids in Yahoo biz, its ownd by the Americans,Libanez,nd Italians
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of checks were they carrying out by 4:50am before they found him dead in a bathroom? Aj
ReplyDelete