The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has vowed
to probe the alleged stolen assets worth over $400m kept in the
United Arab Emirate (UAE).
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
An investigation by a coalition of civil society groups led by
the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource
Centre), had alleged the sum was stolen by some unnamed politically
exposed persons.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
Prof Gbenga Oduntan of Kent Law School, University of Kent,
United Kingdom, the lead researcher that conducted the
investigation into the discovery of the loot presented the report
to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, in Abuja on behalf of
several civil society groups and foreign technical partners.
The report of the investigation was presented last week amidst
outrage in the human rights community.
A statement by HEDA yesterday quoted the EFCC as assuring that
the report would be investigated.
Chairman, HEDA Resource Centre, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, said his
group was determined to expose corrupt people whereever they are,
adding that recovering funds looted from Nigeria remains one of the
focal points of his group.
The illicit proceeds, he disclosed, represent some 800 assets
out of which 216 are owned by 13 top Nigerian security
officials.
In his remark, Bawa who personally accepted the reports praised
the efforts of the civil society groups in assisting anti-graft
agencies to fight and subdue corruption.
He said the fight against corruption is not an easy task. “It is
not what EFCC can fight alone. We need to do a lot to make it not
attractive for people to steal. If we want to stop illicit funds,
we need to stop the inflow.”
The EFCC Chairman said the EFCC will go after those involved in
illicit financial flow in line with his commitment to fight
corruption. He said it is part of the EFCC mandate to retrieve the
proceeds of crime cross national jurisdiction.
Bawa said, “We have a lot of bilateral and international
relations and agreements that bring us together with our partner
law enforcement agencies in countries under consideration. It is
one of our duties to ensure the prevention of the property being
taken at all and to ensure they are not taken out of the country.
They cannot take the funds out of the country without
collaborators, adding that states and institutions should ensure
honest and transparent procurement procedure.
He said the EFCC values collaboration with civil society groups
set up to promote public good. He counselled NGOs not to allow
themselves to be used by criminals seeking the primitive
accumulation of wealth.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has vowed
to probe the alleged stolen assets worth over $400m kept in the
United Arab Emirate (UAE).
An investigation by a coalition of civil society groups led by
the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource
Centre), had alleged the sum was stolen by some unnamed politically
exposed persons.
Prof Gbenga Oduntan of Kent Law School, University of Kent,
United Kingdom, the lead researcher that conducted the
investigation into the discovery of the loot presented the report
to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, in Abuja on behalf of
several civil society groups and foreign technical partners.
The report of the investigation was presented last week amidst
outrage in the human rights community.
A statement by HEDA yesterday quoted the EFCC as assuring that
the report would be investigated.
Chairman, HEDA Resource Centre, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, said his
group was determined to expose corrupt people whereever they are,
adding that recovering funds looted from Nigeria remains one of the
focal points of his group.
The illicit proceeds, he disclosed, represent some 800 assets
out of which 216 are owned by 13 top Nigerian security
officials.
In his remark, Bawa who personally accepted the reports praised
the efforts of the civil society groups in assisting anti-graft
agencies to fight and subdue corruption.
He said the fight against corruption is not an easy task. “It is
not what EFCC can fight alone. We need to do a lot to make it not
attractive for people to steal. If we want to stop illicit funds,
we need to stop the inflow.”
The EFCC Chairman said the EFCC will go after those involved in
illicit financial flow in line with his commitment to fight
corruption. He said it is part of the EFCC mandate to retrieve the
proceeds of crime cross national jurisdiction.
Bawa said, “We have a lot of bilateral and international
relations and agreements that bring us together with our partner
law enforcement agencies in countries under consideration. It is
one of our duties to ensure the prevention of the property being
taken at all and to ensure they are not taken out of the country.
They cannot take the funds out of the country without
collaborators, adding that states and institutions should ensure
honest and transparent procurement procedure.
He said the EFCC values collaboration with civil society groups
set up to promote public good. He counselled NGOs not to allow
themselves to be used by criminals seeking the primitive
accumulation of wealth.