Abuja Under the direction of Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that it has successfully prosecuted two former ministers and four former governors over the course of the last 12 months.

Olukoyede, accompanied by Wilson Uwujaren, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, gave a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, highlighting the commission’s noteworthy accomplishments in asset recovery and fraud prevention.

According to him, prominent people have been accused with severe charges involving billions of state monies, including former governors Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi). Obiano is accused of money laundering and stealing N4 billion, Ahmed and his former finance commissioner of mismanaging N10 billion, Bello of over N190 billion, and Ishaku and a former official of N27 billion.

Olukoyede underlined that the EFCC has been pursuing those engaged in vote-buying during recent elections and is combating unlawful vote trading.

Following claims of bribery to dismiss money laundering charges against the crossdresser, the EFCC declared it would not accept corruption among its ranks with regard to social media personality Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.

Olukoyede went on to say that the organisation has made great strides against illicit mining, which have resulted in investigations and arrests.

He clarified that the EFCC has made progress against currency hoarding, obtaining over 35 convictions, and has retrieved assets valued at N248.7 billion in the last 12 months.

He claims that the EFCC also prioritised asset repatriation, sending €5,100 to Spain and $180,300 and 53 cars back to Canada. Fourteen properties were given back to the government of Enugu State domestically.

The head of the EFCC reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to accountability and openness in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

During Ola Olukoyede’s one-year term as EFCC Chairman, which ran from October 18, 2023, to October 18, 2024, the EFCC declared that it had charged four former governors with corruption: Yahaya Adoza Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra), and Darius Dickson Ishaku (Taraba).

“Under my direction, the Commission obtained 3,455 convictions for financial crimes and corruption in all its forms. Recoveries of monetary assets have also been notable, with N248,750,049,365.52 in Naira being recovered. With $105,423,190.39 in foreign currency that year, the EFCC showed a significant emphasis on asset recovery.

“The mining industry is one of the many societal sectors represented on our extensive docket of cases.

“I have no doubt that the inquiry into the claims made by Bobrisky and VeryDarkman will successfully come to a close. The proper course of action will be followed if any misbehaviour is verified. I have seen law enforcement officers held accountable for professional wrongdoing over my years here.

Regarding vote trading, the commission has made great strides in stopping the purchase and sale of votes in previous elections, particularly during runoff elections. The goal of our endeavour is to discourage such activity, and I am aware that we have prosecuted many people when they were arrested.

The legislation states that INEC is in charge of prosecuting electoral violations. But we have obstacles to overcome, and the lesson is that we need to be alert.

“The cases and prosecution against individuals implicated in election offences must be our primary priority.

It’s crucial to remember that every agency has a different set of goals. Other regulatory agencies have duties inside the ICT ecosystem, whereas the EFCC is in charge of law enforcement.

We sent Betta Edu, the previous Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, information on our work at the start of the inquiry. The Chairman indicated keeping an eye on more than 40 accounts, which requires time for a comprehensive inspection. These are continuing issues.

According to Bayo Onanuga, a senior government official, the President received a report and took action by designating a new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. I appreciate the source of this information.