Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the Commission will soon file 800 cases in court on public corruption and cybercrime.
He also said cases of politically exposed persons in court including those involving former governors, ministers and others considered as high profile, would be diligently and vigorously prosecuted.
Bawa further gave indication of a re-arraignment of Senator Orji Kalu, ex-governor of Abia State who regained freedom after being convicted and sentenced on graft related charges by a Federal High Court.
The EFCC boss who spoke on Thursday at a media parley organised by the Presidential communication team in Abuja, disclosed that 1,502 internet fraudsters were arrested across the country from January to June 10, 2021.
He said, “We have prosecuted a number of people within this period, secured 185 convictions and you are aware that for two months the courts have been on strike, we have filed 367 cases and as I said within this week, we are going to file 800 cases in court on public corruption as well as cybercrime.
On corruption, he said, “All the known politically exposed cases that you are aware of that are in court are still in court and we are vigorously and intelligently going to sustain their prosecution. Yesterday (Wednesday), you have all reported it; we succeeded in securing the convictions of an ex-bank MD, Francis Atuche. https://scudnewsng.com
“He was sentenced to six years imprisonment on all 21 out of the 27 count charges. Of course, it is to run con-concurrently, it involves about N27 billion. We have been prosecuting that matter from the 16th of October 2009, judgment was only given yesterday.
“We are determined to continue to prosecute no matter how long it takes and no matter the amount of resources that is involved. And that is why those of us in law enforcement say it time and time again, there is no budget in law enforcement because you never can tell where it will take you. It can take you up to the six continents and back and you have to prove your case beyond all reasonable doubts. So also in the case of prosecution, it can take one, two or several years.”
Bawa named ex-governors and other high profile persons still undergoing prosecution for corruption as, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Katsina State Governor and three others standing trial for criminal breach of trust amounting to N11billion, Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Oyo State Governor for fraud, amounting to N11. 7billion, Ikedi Ohakim, former Imo State Governor, money laundering amounting to $2.2 million and Muazu Babangida Aliyu, former Niger State Governor for money laundering amounting to N4 billion.
Others included, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd) for money laundering amounting to N21. 4billion, Olajide Omokore, money laundering and procurement fraud amounting to $1.6billion, Erastus Akingbola, former MD Intercontinental Bank N179billion and Andrew Yakubu, former GMD, NNPC money laundering to the tune of $9.7million and Euro 74,000.
Also on the list of politically exposed persons on corruption-related trials are Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia Ex-judge, attempt to pervert the course of justice, N5 million, Femi Thomas, former Executive Secretary, NHIS for money laundering amounting to $2.1million and Babachir Lawal, former SGF for diversion of funds to the tune of N544 million.
Bawa said the EFCC will soon be going after jewelry dealers and real estate developers who may be serving as conduits for money laundering.
He said, “If we can checkmate the problems associated with real estate laundering of proceeds, crimes in this country will reduce. It is on that thinking that we are working on strengthening on this special control unit against money laundering.
“We are working with the two houses of the National Assembly to strengthen the legal framework of this special control unit against money laundering.”
He also clarified his statement concerning the involvement of a minister in the laundering of about $37 million into real estate, saying that it is the case of former minister of Petroleum, Diezani Madueke.
Bawa observed 90 to 100 percent of cases of corruption and stolen public funds are used for the procurement of houses and lands.
“We investigated a matter in which a bank MD marketed a property to a minister and agreed to purchase it at $37.5 million. The bank then sent a vehicle to her house to evacuate $20 million from her house in the first instance,” he had said.
Bawa also disclosed that the EFCC’s intelligence unit has unearthed corruption in the movement of N6 billion from an unnamed state government’s coffers, saying that this finding was possible because of the determination of the commission to restructure for more efficiency.
“Since I came on board, we have embarked on the restructuring of the agency, one of the key things I succeeded in doing is the creation of the department of intelligence.
“This is based on our resolve to Nigerians that going forward, our investigation is going to be intelligence based. Since the creation of the department, we have received meaningful intelligence.
“Just last week, they sent a report of certain government that has taken money out of the treasury of the state government in cash, over a period of time amounting to over N6billion which is a useful thing, that we are using to investigate that aspect.”
He added, “Let me use this opportunity to clarify issues. There are a number of recoveries that the EFCC has made over the years but is not all recoveries made that belong to the Federal Government.
“We have made recoveries for victims of criminals and they can be individuals, local government, state government, federal government, corporate entities whether in Nigeria or outside Nigeria. There are also recoveries that are indirect recoveries.
“Just a couple of weeks back, we recovered $100 million for the Nigerian Ports Authority but the monies were paid into the account of NPA but through our efforts. Am I not going to record that we have recovered such an amount for NPA? Are you going to see it in the EFCC recovered account with the CBN? No.
“There are recoveries that are made directly into the EFCC account. It is through systems and processes. There is Department of Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Management in EFCC responsible for collating all the data regarding recovered assets, assets on interest forfeiture and assets on final forfeiture as well as their location and of course their management.
“From the time I took over, we have recovered 30 real estates, one carpet, 13 electronics, one farm land, one factory, two motorcycles, one filling station and about 32 automobiles.”
