‘Publicity seeking player’- EFCC refutes actress Helen Aduru’s claims that its operatives assaulted her

Authorities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC have denied claims made by actress Helen Duru that some of its operatives invaded her home in Enugu and assaulted her.

On Saturday, September 3, the actress shared a video of herself covered in blood and with a fractured skull, alleging that the antigraft operatives took turns beating her in her apartment. She stated that she was never a person of interest to the operatives.

In a statement released, the EFCC faulted claims made by the actress describing her as a “mere publicity- seeking player, with a poorly- scripted claim that has fallen flat in the face of unassailable facts available to the Commission.”

Read the statement below…

”False and Misleading Video in Circulation on EFCC Operations

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to an online video trending on Instagram, from the handle of a certain “@Iamhelenaduru”, a self-styled actress, purporting, quite mischievously, an assault by operatives of the Commission.

Checks by the Commission, however, flagged Helen Aduru, an (up and coming) actress, as a mere publicity-seeking player, with a poorly- scripted claim that has fallen flat in the face of unassailable facts available to the Commission.

In her script, she was quick to include five names of officers she claimed came from the Cybercrime Section of the Enugu Command of the Commission. Characteristically, EFCC’s officers don’t wear name tags nor move around with bulldozer-shaped equipment to pull down security doors.

Aduru claimed, rather strangely, that she was assisted by a little boy, to a Police Station at 3:44 am but met the station shut. It is important to note that Police Stations are not civil service ministries that “close” in the evening. Even more preposterous is the fact that she never went back, at daybreak, to lodge a complaint. More poignantly untenable is the fact that her purported assault of July 21, 2022, which has not been logged nearly two months later at the Police Station is only being brought to public glare on September 2, 2022!! Such a scene could only stand on a typical Nollywood fiction series.

Such claims by Aduru, like all other stranger-than-fiction, click-baiting, sympathy-seeking ploys, do not merit a response but for the need to avoid “silence is acquiescence” stance of mischief makers. Deeper checks on the matter only showed that certain blackmailers could be bandying some known names in the Enugu Zonal Command to settle some scores.

The Commission, strictly guided by its Standard Operational Procedure, would not succumb to blackmail or any sleight of hand by any character. The poorly- scripted video would be further analysed for more forensic details and possible legal action to dissuade those who seem to be making industry of falsely accusing and maligning the Commission. Members of the public are enjoined to ignore Aduru’s claims. EFCC’s officers are not assaulters or terrorists.”

Activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, has faulted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for labelling Nollywood actress, Helen Duru who was allegedly assaulted by its operatives, as a publicity-seeking player.

Speaking to Mr Gwamnishu, the actress revealed that she filed a complaint at the EFCC office in Abuja but so far nothing has been done concerning the matter.

Speaking further, Gwamnishu noted that he has received complaints about the ‘horrible’ activities of EFCC operatives.

Read his statement below…

“Helen was badly assaulted with different dangerous weapons on the 21st day of July, 2022. The EFCC operatives jumped into her compound at Bonsaac Area, Asaba Delta State through the fence like bandits with NO SEARCH WARRANT or official complaint of FRAUD in search of those they tag Yahoo Boys,” Mr Gwamnishu explained.

After Helen was assaulted, she immediately reported the case at B Divisional Police State Asaba where she was issued a medical report and visited Police Clinic Okwe for medical treatment.

Helen briefed a lawyer who filed a petition dated 3rd August, 2022 and same petition was approved and was invited to EFCC office Abuja where she and her lawyer adopted the said petition for investigation.

Till date, nothing happened as she decided to share to the public the video she recorded showing the injuries she sustained on the 21st July, 2022.

ON THE EFCC PRESS RELEASE

They tagged themselves as Professionals and denied assaulting Helen Duru or conducting themselves as Armed Robbers.

1. The Cars posted on their verified page on 21st July, 2022 was same car they took from Helen Duru’s compound at Bonsacc Asaba.
2. Some of the suspects paraded on their verified page are Helen Duru’s co-tenants arrested same day Helen was assaulted and they are ready to testify.
3. The EFCC did not verify or investigate Helen Petition but were quick to ascribe her call for Justice as a mere publicity-seeking player.

If an agency of Government can issue such a lie, it proves we are all in trouble. I wish to draw the attention of the EFCC Executive Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa to thoroughly investigate this case as their PRESS RELEASE will further destroy their image.

I also wish to draw the attention of the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria and Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo to order the EFCC Chairman BAWA to produce all officers involved in this inhumane treatment.”