Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has disclosed that the anti-graft agency has recovered over N30 billion from the suspended Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Idris Ahmed.
The Commission is currently prosecuting Ahmed over alleged N109 billion fraud.
Speaking with newsmen Thursday at the State House, Abuja, Bawa said with the recovery from the Suspended Accountant General of the Federation the agency was poised to pursuing to a logical conclusion the charges against Ahmed in the court of law.
Giving a breakdown of the achievements of the anti-graft body from January to December, 2022, he gave 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.
Bawa also revealed that over 3,615 convictions were recorded within the period, adding that the administration is serious about its anti-corruption programme.
The EFCC boss announced that following the nationwide auction of forfeited automobiles, it 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.
Bawa also said the Anti-graft agency is currently vetting petition i against some Nigerian politicians.
He said 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 is at this hour 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 politicizing 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.
“Hope this question is not politically motivated?”.
