Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC ), Ibrahim Magu has announced that the anti graft agency has recovered a total sum of N409 Billion and $69 Million Dollars from corrupt Nigerians this year alone.
Speaking to news men in Abuja today, Wednesday, Ibrahim Magu listed the haul of Naira and Dollars from January to August this year as follows:
N409, 270, 706,686.75; $69, 501,156.67
231,118.69 Pounds
Euro 610,816.20)
Dirham 443,400.00
SR70, 500.00
The EFCC boss recalled that two days ago, the Commission got the court order for the forfeiture to the Nigerian Government of a sum of N7.6 billion which was hidden in a Nigerian bank by former petroleum resources minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“Two weeks earlier, another court issued a temporary forfeiture order to seize properties worth Twenty One Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand Dollars ($21,392,224) belonging to the same former minister. Those properties are awaiting final forfeiture.
“Over a month ago, the Commission recovered over N329billion from a group of oil marketers for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. These are major recoveries from a sector of the economy.”
“Over a month ago, the Commission recovered over N329billion from a group of oil marketers for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. These are major recoveries from a sector of the economy. But to give a holistic picture of the aggressive drive to recover stolen wealth, I have the pleasure to report that the Commission
Ibrahim Magu said that in the area of prosecution of cases in court, the Commission is making progress despite the antics of some persons accused of grand corruption to delay trial.
He said that between January and August this year, EFCC recorded 137 convictions and that the potentials for improvement are good as more cases are brought to conclusion in the remaining four months of the year.
Magu stressed that it would be naïve for anyone to expect the fight against corruption to be smooth, adding that the fight is full of resistance and opposition which are expressed in various guises.
“From what we read in the papers these days, it is either somebody is fighting Magu or Magu is fighting other people. I know that journalists want to sell their newspapers, but seriously speaking, instead of fighting ourselves, we should be united in fighting the common enemy, which is corruption.
“Personally, I am not after anybody and have no issues with anybody. Those who think they have issues with me will soon discover that I mean no harm. What drives me is the passion to do what is right by ensuring that we fight corruption to a standstill in this country.”
he vowed that despite all the challenges “we are not resting on our oars. We believe there is still a lot to be done which is the reason why we are actively seeking the support of all stakeholders, including the media.” [myad]
