EFCC recovers N116.9m, 65 cars, foreign currencies in six months

The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, said it has recovered an aggregate sum of N116,945,981 and 65 vehicles from various operations in the last six years.

Other foreign currencies also recovered within the same period include USD39, 125; £50 (fifty pounds) and 1,800 Euros.

The Commission made the disclosure through the Head, Ibadan Zonal office, Mr Friday Ebelo during a press conference at the Iyaganku, Ibadan Zonal office to update the public on the successes achieved by the anti-graft agency in the last six months.

Explaining how the recoveries were made, Ebelo said the monies were partly forfeited to the Federal Government and partly to individuals who were defrauded, adding that while 11 of the recovered vehicles were unregistered, 54 were duly registered.

According to the Zonal boss, from January till date, a total of 481 petitions were received out of which 117 were rejected. The rejection, he said, was necessitated by the reality that the cases in question were not under the constitutional purview and powers of the Commission.

Flanked by other top officials from the Zonal office, Ebelo added that 364 of the petitions received were approved for investigation, out of which the commission was able to secure 83 convictions out of the 107 cases filed at different courts within the zone.

He said, “This briefing is essentially organized to share with you the successes of the Commission’s Ibadan zonal office in the last six months.

“With the unwavering support of our Acting Chairman and other stakeholders, the zone has recovered remarkable successes in the period under review.

“This year, the zone received a total of 481 petitions out of which 117 were rejected. About 364 were approved for investigations and we were able to secure 83 convictions out of the 107 cases filed at different courts within the zone. That represents 83 percent of the total number of cases filed.

“From January to June 21, 2019, an aggregate sum of N116, 945, 981.68 (One hundred and sixteen million, nine hundred and forty five thousand, nine hundred and eighty-one naira, sixty-eight kobo) was recovered.

“Others which are foreign currencies include $39,125 (thirty-nine thousand, one hundred and twenty-five United States Dollars), £1,800 (One thousand, eight hundred Euros) and £50 (fifty Pounds). Also recovered are 65 vehicles- 54 registered and 11 unregistered.”

While lamenting the new wave of suspects being brought to the commission office, Ebelo urged parents to monitor the kids and youths, especially those in higher institutions as many youths, both male and female are engaging in cyber crimes in alarming rate.

“I want to say that in the last six months, going by the crime indices done by the Commission, most of the suspects been brought in are young Nigerians with potentials to be great in life.

“It is not enough to send kids to school, parents should pay unscheduled visit visits to their schools, especially higher institutions of learnings and see what the children are doing. That will help to nip in the bud any criminal tendencies they might be showing or engaging in.

“Also, we must be weary in using or giving your bank accounts to people around to use to receive funds. Many innocent people are falling victims and it is increasingly becoming difficult to prove, especially when they are the ones who also help them withdraw cash which could have been proceeds of crimes. Parents must monitor their wards and ensure that they did not keep bad company”, the Zonal head pleaded.

While speaking on the various efforts to ensure more effective collaborations with relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption, Ebelo said the move has yielded an offer of free airtime with University of Ibadan owned radio station, Diamond FM to create awareness and alert, especially the youths on the ills of economic and financial crimes and how they could be tackled.