The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that a total of N794 billion suspected to have been stolen from public treasury was recovered in the last three years.
Also within the period under review, the commission said $261 million, 1,115, 930.47 Pounds, 8,168, 871.13 Euros as well as 86,500 CFA were recovered and returned to the coffers of the Federal Government.
The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, made the disclosures yesterday in Abuja, at a press conference to project his achievements in the last three years.
Magu, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 11, 2015, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate as substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency.
Apart from the cash recoveries, Magu also noted that 407 mansions had been seized from suspects and accused persons. While 126 have been forfeited finally to government, 281 others are under interim forfeiture. It is on record that about 90% of all recoveries in Nigeria are through the EFCC.
“Following court orders which granted our prayers for interim and final forfeiture of looted funds, the recoveries under my watch between November 2015 and today are as follows:
“Over N794 billion and $261 million have been recovered. The Pounds Sterling recovered stands at 1,115, 930.47 while the Euros recovered in the period stand at: 8,168, 871.13.
“There is also the sum of 86,500 CFA,” Magu said.
He added that: “Hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewellery, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment have been seized from corrupt elements between 2015 and 2018.
“From 2015 to 2018, 407 mansions were seized, 126 have been forfeited finally and 281 are under interim forfeiture.
“Nine filling stations were seized and placed under interim forfeiture.
“Lands seized sums up to 98 of which 56 are under interim forfeiture, while 42 have been forfeited finally to the Federal Government.
“Two hundred and fiftynine automobiles have been seized, 35 are under interim forfeiture while 224 have been forfeited finally.”
Magu listed St. Solomon Health Care Centre, located at Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos as another asset seized by the commission.
In a related development, the EFCC’s acting chairman disclosed that in the last three years, the commission secured 703 convictions. The breakdown, according to him, is as follows: 103 convictions in 2015; 194 convictions in 2016; 189 in 2017 and 217 from January 2018 till date.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has expressed worry over the delay in the anticipated prosecution of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Alison-Madueke, by the UK authorities. Magu, while conveying the government’s frustration, said the commission cannot wait for a process that seems indefinite.
Asked if the move to extradite the former minister will not jeopardise the offshore investigation, Magu said: “There is no court trial. She was being investigated even before I assumed office. So, it has taken so long education and it is very unreasonable that she is not being tried there.
“So, we are tired of waiting and that was why I said if you cannot prosecute her, bring her and we will prosecute her. There is no prosecution going on in the UK.
“We are involved in the investigation in this country and outside the country, including America and London. I have been there. We have worked and sat together. We cannot wait endlessly. I think three years and above is sufficient for you to take her to court. There is no court process against her in the UK. Nobody is prosecuting her there.”
Though, the Commission’s chairman expressed satisfaction with the achievements recorded within a three-year space, he insisted that a lot still needed to be done, in the fight against corruption. He, therefore, solicited support from the public, saying the commission had no monopoly of knowledge.
Nonetheless, Magu argued that: “Perhaps fair to describe the task of championing the anti-corruption crusade as one of the most difficult jobs in the world, because corruption always fights back viciously on many fronts. I have experienced this first-hand.”
