We’ll Soon Sell over 150 Forfeited Houses To Public, EFCC Boss Announces

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa has announced that the Commission will soon sell to interested Nigerians, over 150 forfeited houses across the country.

The sale will follow the nationwide auction of forfeited vehicles and other automobiles.

Bawa, who spoke today, December 15, at a media briefing in Abuja, as part of the highlights of the activities of the Commission for the year 2022, said that the Commission recovered over N30 billion from the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris. The Commission is prosecuting the Idris over alleged N109 billion fraud.

According to the anti graft boss, over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period under review, saying that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been serious about its anti-corruption fight.

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.

He said that the Anti-graft agency is currently vetting petition against some Nigerian politicians, adding that the Petitions Vetting Desk/Committee of agency, made up of experienced officers from the Legal Department, as well as those trained to investigate such petitions are currently reviewing them.

Asked if it received petition against any of the presidential candidates for the 2023 elections, Bawa said: “My question at this hour is, do you want to start inviting all the presidential candidates to come and make statements? The same media will say it’s politically motivated.

“So we are not, we are not, aah, we are working behind the scene in all the petitions we received to see those that have merits, so that’s why we are not politicising it.

“And that’s why we have what we call Petitions Vetting Desk/Committee made up of experienced officers from the Legal Department as well as those trained to investigate that will review these petitions to see whether they are in line with our own mandate before they will recommend whether they will be prosecuted by the EFCC.

“We have benchmark for it that we can follow, that guides us, you know, in terms of accepting or rejecting petitions, you know, as we also have a criteria which have even been publicised to guide petitioners on the requirements to make a petition to have merit.”