EFCC Recovers N27bn, $19m, Investigates Former Governors, Ministers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered a combined sum of N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33 from three different money laundering cases, as further efforts are being made by the anti-graft agency to recover more illicit funds.

The anti-graft agency said it would soon make public, details of its ongoing probe of some former governors, ex-ministers, and several government officials across the federation, following the receipt of several petitions.

The anti-graft agency is also carrying out ongoing investigations into some monumental procurement fraud involving some officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Agriculture.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, made the developments known on Wednesday while speaking on behalf of the EFCC acting Chairman, Abdukarim Chukkol, during a media interaction with select journalists in Lagos.

Oyewale said the anti-graft agency had seized several houses in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Cross River states which are proceeds of funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects that were diverted through sundry Bureau de Change operators.

“In three different cases, the commission has recovered N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33. While ongoing recovery is being made, the commission’s works are progressing in line with our mandate as prevention initiatives, risk assessments and recovery efforts are being intensified.

“Petitions were received in respect of several public officials, some of them former governors, some former ministers, and some ministry officials, and investigations are ongoing on those petitions; however, details of their involvements and our investigations will soon be made public.

“Also, investigations are ongoing in respect of monumental fraud involving some officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and Agriculture; procurement fraud actually. Funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects are diverted through sundry Bureau de Change operators. For now, several houses purchased with the funds are being recovered. The houses are in Abuja, Lagos and Cross River States,” Oyewale said.

EFCC in September quizzed a former Minster of Power, Olu Agunloye, over an alleged $6bn Build, Operate and Transfer contract.

Earlier in May, a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, was arrested and detained by the EFCC in connection with an alleged N22bn fraud.