EFCC recovers N248bn, $105m, secures 3,455 convictions in one year

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over N248 billion, $105 million, and secured 3,455 convictions in its fight against corruption between 2023 and 2024.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this at a press briefing to mark his one year in office in Abuja on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

Olukoyede, who spoke through the EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had also charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations.

Olukoyede noted that the achievement was recorded from October 18, 2023, to October 18, 2024, when he came on board as the chairman.

According to him, the commission within the year recovered N248,750,049,365.52; $105,423,190.39; £53,133.64; €172,547.10; T1,300.00 (Indian Rupees); and CAD $3,400.00 (Canadian dollars).

The EFCC boss said: “We also recovered ¥74,859:00 (Chinese Yuan); AUS $ 740:00 (Australian dollars); 170:00 UAE Dirham; 73,000:00 Korean Won; CFA 7,821,375:00; and R 50:00 South Africa Rands.

“On asset recovery and return, the EFCC on September 6, handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) the sum of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, being assets recovered for Canadian victims of Nigerian fraudsters.”

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Olukoyede said $164,000 of the recovered cash assets was for a victim, identified as Elena Bogomas, while $16,300 belonged to a victim, known as Sandra Butler.

“The recovered 53 vehicles were stolen over a period of time in Canada, freighted to Nigeria, and distributed to multiple locations in Nigeria by the criminal elements,” he disclosed.

The EFCC chairman revealed that within the year, the anti-graft agency also charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations.

According to him, the former governors are Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

Olukoyede added: “Yahaya Bello is charged in two different courts; one at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, before Justice Emeka Nwite on 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88.

“The former Kogi governor alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu is also answering to 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4 billion before Justice Maryanne Anenih.

“Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State and former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, are facing prosecution before Justice S. C Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 15-count charge bordering on alleged N27 billion fraud.”

Olukoyede stated that Ahmed, alongside the former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, is facing prosecution on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N10 billion.

On his part, Obiano was on January 24 arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, where he was arraigned on nine counts bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing, and corruption to the tune of N4 billion.

The EFCC boss added that two former Ministers of Power, Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye, have been arrested and facing prosecution by the commission.

The Star