‘3,615 convictions, over $121m recovered’ — EFCC lists 2022 achievements

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it recovered over $121 million as part of the assets forfeited to the federal government.

Abdulrasheed Bawa, the EFCC chairperson, said this on Thursday at a media briefing organised by the presidential communications team in Abuja.

Highlighting the achievements of the anti-graft agency, Bawa said the funds were recovered from January 1 till October 31, 2022.

He added that €156,925, ¥21,350 CFA300,000, 52 automobiles, one motorcycle, 57 electronic gadgets, 78 pieces of clothing are among assets recovered.

Bawa said the aforementioned assets had been forfeited to the federal government and are not cases under investigation.

“In terms of monetary recoveries for the year under review, from January 1st to October 31st, 2022, we recovered N134,337,759,574,” he said.

“We have equally recovered $121 million as well as different amounts of pound sterling, euro, Japanese yen, among others

“For the non-cash assets, these are some of the recoveries that we have made: 52 automobiles, electronics, motorcycles, clothing and real estates. These are forfeited assets, not cases that are under investigation.”

He also said the agency secured 3,615 convictions from January 1 till December 9, 2022.

“In the first full year of the current administration, the EFCC recorded only 195 convictions — that was 2016. In 2017, EFCC recorded 186; we went down. In 2018, we recorded 312 convictions,” he said.

“In 2019, we recorded 1,280 convictions, it went up with over 312 percent; in 2022, we had COVID, so we went down to 976. Last year (2021), which was part of my administration, we recorded an unprecedented 2,220 convictions and this year, even though it has not ended, we have so far recorded 3,615 convictions — unprecedented.

“The figures, showing convictions that the EFCC has secured this year alone, are more than the convictions the commission has recorded from inception up till 2020.”