Four former governors have been arraigned in the last one year as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it recovered over N248 billion, $105 million and secured 3455 convictions in its fight against corruption within the period.
The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, announced this on Thursday in Abuja at a news briefing to mark his one year in office.
Olukoyede, who spoke through the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had also charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations.
He noted that the remarkable achievement was recorded from October 18, 2023 to October 18, 2024, when he came on board as the chairman.
According to him, the commission within the year recovered N248,750,049,365.52; $105,423,190.39; £53,133.64; €172,547.10; 1,300.00 Indian Rupees; and $3,400.00 Canadian Dollars.
Olukoyede added: “It also recovered ¥74,859:00 Chinese Yuan; AUS $ 740:00 Australian Dollars; 170:00 UAE Dirham; 73,000:00 Korean Won; CFA 7,821,375:00 and R 50:00 South Africa Rands.
“On asset recovery and return, the EFCC on September 6, handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) the sum of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, being assets recovered for Canadian victims of Nigerian fraudsters.”
He said $164,000 of the recovered cash assets was for a victim as Elena Bogomas, while $16,300 dollars belonged to another victim: Sandra Butler.
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“The recovered 53 vehicles were stolen over a period of time in Canada, freighted to Nigeria and distributed to multiple locations in Nigeria by the criminal elements,” he said.
The EFCC chairman revealed that within the year, the commission also charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations.
According to him, the former governors are Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).
He said: “Yahaya Bello is charged in two different courts: one at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, before Justice Emeka Nwite on 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,088.88.
“The former Kogi governor alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu is also answering to a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4 billion before Justice Maryanne Anenih.
“Ishaku, the former governor of Taraba State, and former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, are facing prosecution before Justice S. C Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 15-count charge bordering on alleged N27 billion fraud.”
Olukoyede also said Ahmed, alongside Ademola Banu, former Commissioner for Finance, are facing prosecution on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N10 billion.
On his part, Obiano was on January 24, 2024 arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on nine counts bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of N4 billion.
In the same vein, he said two former Ministers of Power, Saleh Mamman and Olu Agunloye, have been arrested and facing prosecution by the commission.
He said: “Mamman is being prosecuted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73.
“Agunloye, the Minister of Power in the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, is being prosecuted on seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion.
“Also, a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, is currently standing trial before two different courts – Justice S.B. Belgore of the FCT High Court, Garki, and Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court, Maitama.”
The EFCC boss said Sirika was being prosecuted alongside his brother, Ahmad Sirika, and two companies: Enginos Nigeria Limited and Samahah Integrated Investment Limited, on 10 counts bordering on alleged N5.8 billion fraud.
Olukoyede said Sirika is also standing trial before Justice Oriji for six counts alongside Fatima Sirika, Jalal Hamma and Al Buraq Global Investment Limited over alleged N2.8 billion fraud.
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