$111,000 fraud: Suspect commits suicide in EFCC’s custody

:  Wed, 06/20/2012 - 22:04
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the death of 52 years old Italian, Mr. Mauro Zanin, a suspected fraudster two days before he was scheduled to appear in court. He was found dead in the bathroom of EFCC’s detention facility in Abuja at about 4.50 am yesterday. 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 to revive him, failed. He was certified dead at about 5.45 am.

Though all clues point to suicide, the incident had been reported to the police station at Maitama for further investigation.

The deceased was arrested by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service following a complaint by Mr. Ahamefula Chibuzor Ewuzie that he fraudulently obtained $111,000 from Gladwaters Nigeria Limited, and transferred to the commission on  May 30, 2012 for further investigation.

The commission had filed a five-count charge against him  and got 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 May 31, 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 stated. 

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 suspect’s death, wondering how she would recover the huge sum of money obtained from her by the deceased.