The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, says the commission has recovered $261 million, N6 billion, and 13,000 pounds illegally acquired by suspected criminals since he assumed office.
Speaking at the presidential media team ministerial briefing at the statehouse Abuja on Thursday, June 18. He said also recovered by the anti-graft agency were 30 real estates, 32 automobiles, a farmland, and other properties acquired by suspected fraudsters.
Bawa added that the commission is set to prosecute 800 cybercrime cases in various courts beginning from next week.
“I have a full breakdown of all funds recovered by the commission from its activities. This is in line with the accountability process of proceeds of funds recovered as a result of financial crimes.
From the time I took over, we have recovered over N6 billion, over $161 million, over £13,000, €1,730, 200 Canadian dollars, CFA 373,000 and ¥8,430.
Just a couple of some weeks back, I think leading up to last week or thereabout, we recovered over $100 million for the NPA, but the monies were paid directly into the account of the Ports Authority.
We have recovered 30 real estates, one carpet, 13 electronics, one farmland, a factory, motorcycles, land, a filling station, and about 32 automobiles.”
Speaking further, the EFCC boss said
“The rising increase of internet fraud is a huge problem. From January to the 10th of June 2021, we arrested 1,502 internet fraudsters across the country. Last Monday that the court resumed, we attempted to file close to about 800 cases of internet fraud.
“We are working with states government that we have identified to be more vulnerable to this. It is something parents, elders, institutions should be talking to one another, it is tarnishing the image of this country. They are doing it on a daily basis, they see it as another way of getting another income which is worrisome to us.
“A chunk of those doing this are young boys of between 25 and 34, in their active live”
Bawa disclosed that the agency will be prosecuting some former governors and government officials linked to fraud cases.
“The cases of former Governors Ibrahim Shema, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Ikedi Ohakim, Muazu Babagida Aliyu and former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Olusola Amosu are going on. Orji Uzor Kalu, we are going to prosecute him again all over after 12 years.
Others are cases involving Olajide Omokore (an oil magnate), former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erasmus Akingbola; ex- Group Managing Director of the NNPC(Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation), Andrew Yakubu; ex-judge Rita Ofili-Afumogobia, ex-Executive Director of NHIS (National Health Insurance Scheme), Femi Thomas and a former Secretary of the Government of the Federation(SGF), Babachir Lawal.”he said
Clarifying on his earlier comment of a minister who purchased a $37 million property through a bank chief, Bawa explained that the Minister in question was a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
