In one year, EFCC, ICPC recovered N277.69b, $106m

In one year, EFCC, ICPC recovered N277.69b, $106m

The nation’s two main anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), recovered more than N277.685 billion and $105,966 million this year.

While the EFCC recovered 753 duplexes, the ICPC tracked 1,500 projects nationwide.

The ICPC also made  Ministries Departments and Agencies(MDA) forfeit N10.8 billion in unspent funds.

The two agencies secured 3,468 convictions during the period.

 Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, made these known during a news conference by Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC), in Abuja yesterday.

Mijinyawa also told reporters that four erstwhile governors and three former ministers are currently on trial in different courts. He, however, did not give their names.

He described the feat by the anti-graft agencies during the year as an “unprecedented milestone” and a testament to their commitment to combating corruption and financial crimes in the country.

His words: “In asset recovery, the EFCC reclaimed over N248 billion, $105 million, and 753 duplexes, while recording an impressive 3,455 convictions as of October 2024.

“Under the leadership of Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the EFCC implemented key reforms, including the creation of new departments like Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC), restructuring of zonal offices, and the launch of EFCC 97.3FM for public education.

‘’The commission hosted a national cybercrime dialogue with stakeholders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR IN attendance.

“The commission also through its special task force against naira abuse achieved 35 convictions.

‘’Internationally, the EFCC strengthened partnerships with agencies like the FBI and Canadian Royal Mounted Police, recovering assets for foreign fraud victims, while Olukoyede’s regional leadership as President of NACIWA has advanced anti-corruption collaboration across West Africa.”

He said the EFCC’s prosecution of the former governors and ministers, and a former Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)  governor, Godwin Emefiele,  for money laundering and other financial crimes reflected the commission’s pursuit of justice and accountability.

  Mijinyawa added that  ICPC’s drive for transparency, accountability, and war against corruption led to Nigeria’s re-election to the GlobE Network Steering Committee, a global anti-corruption network launched in 2021 to improve cooperation between law enforcement authorities to fight corruption.

He said: “The ICPC achieved significant milestones in 2024. Notably, the Commission recovered N29.685 billion in cash, $966,900.83), and an additional N10.804 billion restrained or forfeited from Ministries Departments Agencies (MDAs).

“Through its Constituency and Executive Projects’ Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), 1,500 projects were tracked nationwide. The ICPC also processed 851 petitions, investigated 243 cases, 63 in court, and 13 convictions.

“Internationally, the ICPC participated in high-level anti-corruption events, culminating in Nigeria’s re-election to the GlobE Network Steering Committee, reflecting its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and combating corruption.”

Also giving updates about other efforts employed by the country to fight financial crimes, Mijinyawa said the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) had leveraged AI-driven innovations to improve the accuracy and timeliness of financial intelligence reports while restructuring its operations to enhance its regional leadership.

According to him, the NFIU trained Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) across West Africa on AML/CFT standards, fostering regional collaboration and strengthening responses to illicit financial flows.

He added: “Internationally, the NFIU gained recognition for its contributions, with its staff elected to leadership positions in the Egmont Group and Interpol just as partnerships were established with entities like the UK Treasury, GIABA, and the Global Centre on Cooperative Security.

“The unit in its bid to delist Nigeria from the FATF grey list by 2025 implemented the FATF Action Plan through workshops on mutual evaluations, beneficial ownership transparency, and judicial capacity-building,” he said.

In the area of war against drugs, he said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 14,480 individuals, including 15 drug barons, seized 2.37 million kilograms of illicit drugs, and secured 2,867 convictions in 2024.

He said: “Under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, the NDLEA sensitised over 1.3 million people through 3,064 activities and provided counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation for 6,655 individuals.”