EFCC exhibit theft: Officer’s case fixed for December

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

Justice A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna State, on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, adjourned till 11 December 2025 the hearing in the trial of Polycarp Andrew, a dismissed staff member and former exhibit keeper of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Andrew was arraigned on 5 May 2025 on six-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, prompting the EFCC’s counsel, H.M. Mohammed, to pray the court for a date for the commencement of the trial.

At the opening of the trial, Mohammed informed the court of his readiness to present two witnesses comprising an officer of the EFCC and an official from Opay Bank.

Defence counsel, D.B. Kwajafa, upon announcing his appearance, informed the court that he was not ready for trial, arguing that the defendant was entitled to a fair hearing and adequate time to prepare for his defence.

He pleaded that he was recently served with a flash drive containing the video recording of the extra-judicial statement of the defendant when he was arrested and sought an adjournment to study the statement.

Mohammed, in countering Kwajafa’s application for adjournment, told the court that the flash drive in question was not relevant at this time of hearing of the case.

After listening to both counsels, Justice Bello adjourned the case to 11 December 2025 for hearing.

Andrew was arrested in Taraba State after he allegedly stole over N22 million from the exhibit of Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC while holding sway as the exhibit keeper of the Directorate.

He absconded after investigations flagged him as the alleged stealer.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you Andrew Polycary, being a public servant (Exhibit Keeper) in the employment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate between 26th January to 11th October 2023 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Kaduna State and in such capacity entrusted with the sum of $11,900 (Eleven Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars) in equivalent aggregate sum of N10,936,338.26 (Ten Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Eight Hundred Naira, Twenty Six Kobo) for safe keeping did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum of money an offence punishable under section 300 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

Count three reads: “That you Andrew Polycary, being a public servant (Exhibit Keeper) in the employment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate between 6th October 2023 to 27th July 2024 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Kaduna State and in such capacity entrusted with the sum of $3,800 (Three Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars) in equivalent aggregate sum of N5,989,900 (Five Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred Naira) for safe keeping did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum of money an offence punishable under section 300 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

Another reads: “That you Andrew Polycary, being a public servant (Exhibit Keeper) in the employment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate between 15th January to 14th June 2024 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Kaduna State and in such capacity entrusted with the sum of $2,800 (Two Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars) in equivalent aggregate sum of N3,800,000 (Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) for safe keeping did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum of money an offence punishable under section 300 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”