The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday continued the review of its operational activities for last year.
It announced the recovery of N152, 088,698,751.64, $386,220,202.84, £1, 182,519.75 €156,246.76, 1,723,310.00 Saudi Riyal, 1,900.00 South African Rand, and 1, 400.00 Canadian Dollar between January and December 2021.
According to the anti-graft agency, a digital currency component with 5, 36957319 Bitcoin and 0.09012 Ethereum, were in the recovery basket.
The commission, in a statement and info-graphics released in Abuja by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said 22 suspected oil thieves handed over to it by the Nigerian Navy were being interrogated.
He said: “The EFCC Headquarters Operation dominated the recoveries with N67, 249, 744, 994.89, $375,662,223.59 and £1,151,539.75. It is closely followed by the Lagos Command which led the Naira recoveries with N70, 315,611,260.52, $9,286,497.83 and £21,500.00.
“The Kaduna Zonal Command emerged third in terms of Naira recoveries with a total sum of N3, 339,405,723.93 while the Ibadan Zonal Command took the same position in terms of dollar recoveries to the tune of $387,385.00. “The recoveries in zonal commands were as follows: Kaduna (N3, 339,405,723.93, $13,685); Ibadan(N325,527,633.80, $383, 385.00, £2,670, €995, 1,400 CAD, 1900 Rand and 1.30814471BTC) Sokoto (N1.92b, $56,950, £4,075); Ilorin(N240.96 million, $7,161); Abuja(N1.3b, $60,650, £2,000); and Benin (N972.05m, $49,240 and £735).
“Others were Kano (N1 782,781,768.94, $194,098.00); Maiduguri (N970, 424,288.76); Port Harcourt (N2, 149, 058169.41 and $125,077.43); Makurdi (N121, 350,559.00); Gombe (N388, 592.413.54 and $1 $1,500); Uyo (N234, 006,942.00 and $357,000); Enugu (N768, 204, 344.00, $22,735.00.”
The statement said EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa gave more insights on the recoveries.
It said: “Giving an overview of the performance, Bawa said the monies included direct and indirect recoveries for the different tiers of government (Federal, State and Local Governments), corporate organisations and individuals (victims of crime) within the year under review.”
He commended the personnel of the commission for the performance while urging them to “redouble their efforts to ensure that perpetrators of economic and financial crimes are denied the benefit of the proceeds of crime.”
The recoveries from other zonal commands were as follows: Sokoto (N1.92b, $56,950, £4,075); Ilorin(N240.96m, $7,161); Abuja(N1.3b, $60,650, £2,000); and Benin (N972.05m, $49,240 and £ 735)
Meanwhile, 22 suspected oil thieves and a vessel: MT. TIS IV handed over to the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC, the Nigerian Navy were quizzed in connection with alleged illegal dealing in petroleum products.
The EFCC said: “The suspects, arrested by the Nigerian Naval Ship, (NNS) Soroh, Naval Base, Camp Porbeni, Yenagoa along Akassa Rivers, Bayelsa state, on December 6, 2021 and handed over to the EFCC on Friday, January 7, 2022, include: Levi Jonathan; Eze Kenneth; Enemari Peter Jame; Sunday Ereku; Emmanuel Ogbonna; Timi Amos; Fatai Kareem; Chuks Egbo, Tony Atawo and Saviour Martin.
“Others are: Yoosu Alex; Isac Iboro; Bassey Okon; Kingsley Edet; Taye Poto; Saturday Sobere; Alfred Atiemie; Owei Ibolo; Felix Onome; Odus Osita, Etim Edet and Mudashir Tarheed.
“The representative of the Nigerian Navy, Navy Commander P. E Effah, who handed over the suspects and the vessel MT. TIS IV to the EFCC, said they were arrested for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering activities.
“At the time of arrest, the vessel was laden with about 700,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally sourced crude oil.
“Both the vessel and the suspects were remanded at Brass for safe keeping and preliminary investigations. However, today, we are handing over the vessel and crew members to the EFCC for proper investigation.”
An Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE Anthony Mark, took received the suspects and the vessel on behalf of the commission.
Mark thanked the Navy and promised diligent investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects.
