EFCC recovers N248b, $105m in one year

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has recovered about N248,750,049,365.52 between October 18, 2023 and October 2024.

The EFCC revealed that it also recovered $105,423,190.39; £ 53,133.64; €172,547.10; T1,300.00 Indian Rupees; CAD $ 3,400.00 Canadian Dollars;  ¥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.

At a press briefing to mark the first year of Olukayode in the office, EFCC’s Director of public affairs, Wilson Uwujaren said the commission has also charged four former governors, namely: Yahaya Adoza Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Darius Dickson Ishaku, (Taraba) to court for alleged corruption.

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

“A different charge of Yahaya Bello alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu is also before Justice Maryanne Anenih on 16-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4bn.

“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 criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds in the state to the tune of N27, 000,000,000.00.”

READ ALSO:EFCC seeks to try Yahaya Bello in absentia over alleged N80b fraud

The EFCC spokesman also said Ex-governor Ahmed of Kwara State, alongside Ademola Banu, former commissioner of finance in the state, faces prosecution on a 12-count charge, bordering on money laundering and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N10billion.

Obiano was on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

He was arraigned on nine counts bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing, and corruption to the tune of N4 billion.

On the ministers, the EFCC said two former ministers of power, Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye have been arrested and facing prosecution by the commission.

While Mamman, the former Minister of Power between 2019 to 2021 is being prosecuted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on 12-count charges bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73.

He said Agunloye, the Minister of Power in the Obasanjo government is being prosecuted on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion.

Also, a former minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika is standing trial before two different judges – Justice S.B. Belgore of the FCT High Court, Gark, and Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Maitama.

The EFCC said before Justice Belgore, Sirika is being prosecuted alongside his brother, Ahmad Sirika, and two companies, Enginos Nigeria Limited and Samahah Integrated Investment Limited on 10 counts bordering on an alleged N5.8 billion fraud; while before Justice Oriji, he is facing six counts alongside Fatima Sirika, Jalal Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited for an alleged N2.8 billion fraud.