No sooner had Erastus Akingbola, the former chief executive of Intercontinental Bank, arrived at the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, than his travelling documents were seized by the agency who had, since last year, declared him wanted.

Furthermore, as at press time, Mr. Akingbola remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency which had a number of questions for the bank chief. According to the agency, Mr. Akingbola would likely spend the night in the agency's cell.

An operative of the EFCC told NEXT in confidence that it was imperative that the agency seized Mr. Akingbola's passport, especially as he had been on the run from the law for many months.

"Imagine that you have been looking for someone for so long. You have to demobilise him immediately. That is the first thing to do," our source said.

Interrogating Akingbola

Mr. Akingbola, who arrived at the premises of the EFCC at about 10.30 am yesterday, spent practically the whole day answering questions. He was allegedly given a 100 paged questionnaire which he was yet to complete by close of work.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesman of the EFCC who refused to confirm if the former bank chief would be detained by the commission, however said that Mr. Akinbola was being interrogated.

"He came in this morning and he is still being interrogated. I cannot say whether he will be detained or not," Mr. Babafemi said.

A source within the commission however expressed doubts that the former bank chief would be released to go home yesterday.

"The questions are much and if they have not finished questioning him, they have to keep him there and continue the interrogation tomorrow. He has several questions to answer," he said.

Returning home

The details of Mr. Akingbola's return to Nigeria remain fuzzy. Even though it is said that the former bank chief returned to the country over the weekend, there are reports that he actually returned from the Uk sometime last week.

The former bank chief fled Nigeria in August last year after he was sacked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during a major bank shake-up that swept through the country last year. His position at the bank has since been filled up by Mahmud Alabi, a nominee of the CBN.