The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recovered a total of N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33 from three separate money laundering cases.
Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity for EFCC, announced this on Wednesday, emphasizing that the agency is actively working to retrieve more illicit funds. He also revealed that various former governors, ministers, and public officials from across the country are currently under investigation following the receipt of numerous petitions. Oyewale added that further details will be made available at the appropriate time.
During a media interaction with select journalists in Lagos, he spoke on behalf of Abdukarim Chukkol, the acting Chairman of the agency, and mentioned that EFCC had seized multiple properties in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, and Cross River states.
These properties represent funds intended for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects but were diverted through various Bureau de Change operators.
“In three different cases, the commission has recovered N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33. While ongoing recovery is being made, the commission’s works are progressing in line with our mandate as prevention initiatives, risk assessments and recovery efforts are being intensified.
“Petitions were received in respect of several public officials, some of them former governors, some former ministers, and some ministry officials, and investigations are ongoing on those petitions; however, details of their involvements and our investigations will soon be made public.
“Also, investigations are ongoing in respect of monumental fraud involving some officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and Agriculture; procurement fraud actually. Funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects are diverted through sundry Bureau de Change operators. For now, several houses purchased with the funds are being recovered. The houses are in Abuja, Lagos and Cross River States,” Oyewale said.
