The EFCC has warned those posing as representatives of its acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu that it would punish them if they do not discontinues their illicit acts. This was contained in a press statement issued by the commission.

It read: “It has come to the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that some unscrupulous individuals now parade the streets posing as representatives of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, and extorting money from persons under investigation, promising them a soft-landing and, in some instances, giving them assurances that their cases would be closed.

“Intelligence available to the Commission indicate that some of them who are known to have relationships with the acting chairman are exploiting this knowledge to position themselves as agents of the anti-graft czar, to extort desperate suspects under investigation by the Commission.

“In the recent past, the Commission notified the public of the activities of some individuals who cloned the phone number of Magu, using same to illegally solicit funds. Some even opened fake Facebook accounts in the name of the EFCC boss and proceeded to use same to con unsuspecting citizens. But despite the alarms, it would seem that criminal minds are not deterred as their number seemed to have swelled.

“The Commission, for the umpteenth time, wishes to warn members of the public not to fall for the wiles of fraudsters and scammers exploiting the good name of the acting EFCC Chairman to defraud desperate citizens.

“Mr. Magu has not and will never mandate any individual to demand gratification from persons under investigation.

“Members of the public are advised to report anyone who approaches them with a request for gratification on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, to the nearest EFCC office or police station”.