•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disclosed that it has so far recovered over N30 billion out of the N109 billion allegedly siphoned by the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed.
The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this while appearing at the Ministerial Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
Recall that Idris was nabbed by the anti-graft agency on May 16, 2022, in connection with a series of frauds that was initially thought to be N84 billion.
Three days after his arrest, Idris was suspended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to enable him to face his probe.
Idris was arraigned alongside Godfrey Olusegun Akindele and Mohammed Kudu Usman, as well as a firm Gezawa Commodity Market and Exchange Limited.
The EFCC said Idris and his co-defendants are indicted on a 14-count charge of stealing and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N109.5 billion.
Speaking on Thursday during the press briefing, Bawa said the commission is independent without anybody influencing its activities.
“EFCC is independent. Nobody is telling us what to do, what to investigate, how to investigate, how to recover or what not to recover.
“Give us intel. We have been asking people to give us intel and we will do it.
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“The last major investigation that we did was that we arrested the AGF. Out of that fraudulent activities, EFCC has recovered over N30 billion and we are already prosecuting them,” Bawa said
Bawa also gave some highlights of the Commission’s achievements from January to December 2022.
He disclosed other recoveries as N134,33,759,574.25, $121,769,076.30, £21,020.00, €156,925.00, ¥21,350.00, CFA300,000.00 among others.
He also revealed that over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period, affirming that the administration is serious about its anti-corruption programme.
The EFCC boss also announced that the nationwide auction of forfeited automobiles will be followed by the disposal of over 150 houses to interested buyers.
Bawa assured that by the time the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCMUL) becomes fully operational, it will be difficult for money to be laundered in the country.