Outspoken Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassa- Kukah has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on how it treats suspects who were being detained in the commission’s facility.

Wilson Uwajuren, spokesman of the EFCC, made this known in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.

Uwajuren quoted the Catholic Bishop as making the remarks after paying an unscheduled visit to the EFCC headquarters where he was shown round the commissions detention facility and clinic.

Kukah reportedly had a chat with the trio of Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati, three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who were recently arrested and detained by the anti-graft agency.

Uwajuren reported that Kukah described the detainees as cheerful.

“I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati; and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful,” the EFCC spokesman quoted Kukah as saying.

He added that the clergyman was conducted round the facilities by the Commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, after which Kukah had only words of commendation for Magu and his team.

He said: “I was also happy with the humility of the acting Chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees.

“This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kinds of things personal. I am happy I came.

“We are all staff of EFCC to the extent that we want a better country and we are doing what needs to be done.

“We’ll continue praying that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of.

“This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption,” Kukah was quoted as saying.‎

The statement also quoted Magu as assuring the detainees that their being held in custody was nothing personal.

“It is not personal. This is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” Magu said.

The EFCC spokesman noted that Kukah prayed for the detainees before his departure.