Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC says it has secured 3,615 convictions between January and December this year.
Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, made the disclosure on Thursday at the weekly briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team.
He said: “In the first full year of the current administration, the EFCC recorded only 195 convictions, that was 2016, in 2017, EFCC recorded 186, we went down; in 2018 we recorded 312 convictions, in 2019, we recorded 1280 convictions, it went up with over 312 percent; in 2022, we had COVID so we went down to 976, last year (2021) which was part of my administration, we recorded an unprecedented 2220 convictions and this year, even though it has not ended, we have so far recorded 3615 convictions, unprecedented.
“The figures showing convictions that the EFCC has secured this year alone, are more than the convictions the Commission has recorded from inception up to 2020. This is so because of the effort we have put in, the support the government is giving us and also the good working relationship that we have with the Judiciary as well as so many things that we have been doing and the government has been backing us to do so as an institution. That is why you can see the success, this is where we are now and it is going to get better.”
Furthermore, Mr Bawa announced that between January and October this year, the EFCC recovered over N134 billion as well as $121 million and 15 plots of land for the country from criminals.
“In terms of monetary recoveries for the year under review, from January 1st to October 31st 2022,we recovered N134, 337, 759, 574.25. We have equally recovered $121 million as well as different amounts of Pound Sterling, Euros, Japanese Yen etc.
“For the non-cash assets these are some of the recoveries that we have made; 52 automobiles, electronics, motorcycles, clothing and real estates. These are forfeited assets not cases that are under investigation,” he said.
On the forthcoming 2023 general election, the EFCC Boss said they are working in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to restrict vote buying and other corrupt tendencies during the election.
“We are doing quite a lot on this; we are working with INEC and a lot of people but ultimately we want to work with Nigerians. They should know the implications of selling their votes or accepting that their votes should be bought by these individuals.
“We hope and pray that our modest effort will be able to curtail this issue of vote buying when it comes to the elections in February and March,” he said.
Watch List
The EFCC Chairman also stated that some Governors are on the watch list of the anti-graft agency.
“Certainly we are watching a lot of them and a lot of Nigerians have also provided us with information here and there and we are watching, you can also help us with any piece of information you have,” he appealed.
Mr Bawa said the EFCC was in receipt of petitions on the affairs of most of the Presidential candidates currently vying to succeed President Buhari.
He said the case of the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu was still in court and the Commission would follow it to the end.
Welfare
On the welfare of his Staff, the EFCC Chairman said President Buhari had since approved a robust severance package for Staff of the Commission, as a way of enhancing their efficiency.
“About issues of temptation, we thank God for President Muhammadu Buhari, one of the first things that he did when I came on board was to approve for us a very robust severance package and everybody is happy about it in the EFCC, everybody is looking towards retirement. So, we are secured in that regard.
“And for those that yield to the temptations they face, we are dealing with them one at a time, as soon as we get the information and we investigate. Those we found wanting have been purnished, some have been dismissed, some demoted and so on. S for the risks we face, we are very prayerful and God will continue to protect us,” he added.
(VON)