EFCC Recovers N27.2bn, $19.1m, Probes Ex-Governors, Ministers, MDAs Officials

•Says it’s cheaper to prevent crimes

Goddy Egene and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has recovered N27.2 billion and $19.1million in the course of the ongoing investigations embarked upon by the agency this year so far.

The anti-graft agency, which claimed it was cheaper to prevent crimes, has also launched vigorous investigation into the financial dealings of former governors, ministers and officials of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).

The probe followed several petitions written against the former state chief executives and ministers.

The agency has also launched investigations into the  monumental fraud involving some officials of Federal Ministry of Power and Agriculture with respect to Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects and has recovered properties purchased by officials of the ministries.

Acting Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Abdukarim Chukkol, disclosed this yesterday during an interaction with journalists in Lagos.

Chukkol, who was represented by the spokesman of EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, disclosed that out of the N27.2 billion recovered, N12.7 billion was  from one  individual.

The EFCC boss, who said the commission was progressing in line with its mandate,  noted that  the agency has  received  several petitions  in respect of several public officials, including former governors, ministers and some ministry officials. 

“Investigations are ongoing on those petitions. Details of their involvement and our investigations will soon be made public. So far, in three different cases, the commission has recovered N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33. Also, investigations are ongoing in respect of monumental fraud involving some officials of Federal Ministry of Power and  Agriculture.

“Funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects were diverted through sundry Bureau de Change operators.  For now, several houses purchased with the funds in Abuja, Lagos, and Cross River State have been recovered,” he said.

Reminded that some former governors, who are now ministers in the current administration and current members of the National Assembly have allegations of frauds against them, the EFCC boss said investigations were ongoing.

He assured Nigerians that once investigations were concluded, those involved would be persecuted according to the laws of the land irrespective of the office they occupy.

Chukkol explained that  the agency was focused more on preventing financial and economic crimes, noting that it was more cost effective to prevent.

“Considering the cost involved in investigating and prosecuting financial crimes and their perpetrators, it is better we prevent them from happening. As a result, EFCC is intensifying focus on its preventive mandate. We shall be doing more in the area of public enlightenments and more jingles among others,” he said.

On Tuesday, Chukkol had called on Nigerians to be more focused and committed to the war against economic and financial crimes.

He made the call  in Abuja while receiving post-Graduate Auditing and Forensic Management Students of Nile University, who  visited him.

“Fighting corruption is not for the EFCC alone because no matter what we do on our own, we can’t win this war without the buying in of the people, and young people like you. You have a role to play in this exercise.

“One of our former chairmen said one of the most important stakeholders that we have in fighting corruption are the citizens, and you are all citizens, as you have a great role to play in this fight.”

“Corruption is one of the problems that is affecting the progress of our nation, there is nowhere you look at in our society today that you can’t find evidence of corruption.

“Our nation is highly blessed in terms of resources, materials resources, but despite the potentials that we have as a nation, we have not been able to make progress because of corruption,” he added.