EFCC Abuja Zone recovers N1.5bn, $10,386, £730,500

The Abuja Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it recovered N1,541,801,872 billion from June 2019 to June 2020.

Mr. Aminu Aliyu, the Zonal Head, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing on the achievements of the zone within the period under review.

Aliyu further disclosed that the zonal office also recovered 10,386 dollars and 730,500 pounds within the period.

Detailed statements by Aliyu as follows: “In terms of recoveries, we have a total of N1,541,801,872 billion and it is broken down as follows.

“For individuals, we have recovered N315,825,431 million. For corporate organizations, we have recovered N285,430,343 million while we have recovered N940,546,098 million for the federal government.

“Also as part of our recoveries in foreign currency is 10,386 dollars and 730,500 pounds sterling,” he said.

Aliyu then said that the commission’s collaboration with the FBI in some investigations had yielded three arrests in cybercrime offenses.

And he said: “We have also intensified our efforts in stemming the rising tide of cybercrimes in the country and have made several arrests and seized their laptops, phones and other gadgets used to perpetrate the offense.

“Some proceeds of these crimes in the form of vehicles and properties have been forfeited to the federal government while others are still under investigation.”

Aliyu further said that as entrenched in EFCC corporate culture, the officers of the zone had demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity in dispensing their duties to the public.

“Within the year under review, we have received a total number of 704 petitions. Out of these, 314 arrests have been made based on intelligence and merit of the cases, some have been thrown out for lack of merit while others have been transferred to other zones.

“In the same period, we have charged 67 cases to court and secured 43 convictions.

“You are all aware that courts were also affected during this lockdown.

“However, despite this and partial easing of same, we at the Zone are still pushing to get justice as we have been attending our court sessions as and when they sit,” Aliyu said.

Aliyu said that 2020 has been challenging due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it did not deter officers from their duties.

This according to him is to effectively carry out their mandate, knowing that no gap must be created in the fight against corruption.

He enjoined the media, civil society organizations and pressure groups to join hands with EFCC to stamp corruption out of Nigeria for good.

“I wish to assure you that we are ready to do more. Ample support from the Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu and dedication from highly skilled and well trained officers of the EFCC gives that assurance.

“However, we can’t win alone. We must all join hands together in this fight because we can win, but only together,” he concluded.

Ayooluwa Joshua