The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of over N248 billion, $105 million, and other currencies, along with securing 3,455 convictions over the past year.
This achievement was highlighted by Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC chairman, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday to mark his first anniversary in office.
Speaking through Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s director of public affairs, Olukoyede outlined that the recoveries were made between October 18, 2023, and October 18, 2024.
“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,” Olukoyede detailed.
“It 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 Sept. 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.”
Olukoyede explained that $164,000 of the amount belonged to Elena Bogomas, while $16,300 was recovered for Sandra Butler.
The 53 vehicles, he said, were stolen in Canada and trafficked to multiple locations in Nigeria.
Over the past year, the EFCC has also charged four former governors, Yahaya Bello, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Willie Obiano, and Darius Ishaku, over corruption allegations.
In addition, the commission arrested and is currently prosecuting two former ministers of power, Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye.
Olukoyede also noted that Hadi Sirika, a former minister of aviation, is facing trial on 10 counts related to an alleged N5.8 billion fraud alongside his brother Ahmad Sirika and two companies, Enginos Nigeria Limited and Samahah Integrated Investment Limited.
Sirika is also facing additional charges of N2.8 billion fraud in a separate case involving Fatima Sirika, Jalal Hamma, and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited.
