EFCC recovers N227m in Kaduna zonal office

The Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission said on Wednesday that it has recovered over N227m
during its operations in the zone.

The amount, the anti-graft agency said was for the period of
seven months of its operations in the zonal office which was
recently inaugurated in Kaduna State.

According to the EFCC, the sum is made up of N221,336,884.06 and
$17,600 (about N6.4m) recovered from various persons under
investigation by the commission.

The agency, in a statement signed by its Head of operations in
the zonal office, Ibrahim Bappa, noted that 865 arrested suspects
were screened by the commission within the period 220 number of
petitions it received.

Bappa added that from the petitions, 130 have been referred for
investigation, 10 cases are currently under prosecution in courts
while 80 have been referred to sister agencies for further
investigations.

The EFCC boss expressed satisfaction with the judiciary in
Kaduna State in giving speedy trials to financial crime in the
zone.

He said interim forfeiture orders have been obtained from the
court in respect of some of the assets acquired illegally by some
individuals.

Meanwhile, the head of operations said the N49m recovered at
Kaduna International Airport, has been temporarily forfeited to the
Federal Government.

He said, “The zone also wishes to seize this opportunity to
inform members of the public to be wary of fake facebook accounts
of the Ag. Chairman of the Commission fraudulently designed to dupe
unsuspecting victims.

“Nigerians are further advised to be suspicious of business
proposals with quick and high-profit returns; as it may be bait by
fraudsters to swindle them of their hard earned assets.”

He called on financial institutions to ensure strict compliance
with customers requirements before opening accounts for them under
the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The Kaduna zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission said on Wednesday that it has recovered over N227m
during its operations in the zone.

The amount, the anti-graft agency said was for the period of
seven months of its operations in the zonal office which was
recently inaugurated in Kaduna State.

According to the EFCC, the sum is made up of N221,336,884.06 and
$17,600 (about N6.4m) recovered from various persons under
investigation by the commission.

The agency, in a statement signed by its Head of operations in
the zonal office, Ibrahim Bappa, noted that 865 arrested suspects
were screened by the commission within the period 220 number of
petitions it received.

Bappa added that from the petitions, 130 have been referred for
investigation, 10 cases are currently under prosecution in courts
while 80 have been referred to sister agencies for further
investigations.

The EFCC boss expressed satisfaction with the judiciary in
Kaduna State in giving speedy trials to financial crime in the
zone.

He said interim forfeiture orders have been obtained from the
court in respect of some of the assets acquired illegally by some
individuals.

Meanwhile, the head of operations said the N49m recovered at
Kaduna International Airport, has been temporarily forfeited to the
Federal Government.

He said, “The zone also wishes to seize this opportunity to
inform members of the public to be wary of fake facebook accounts
of the Ag. Chairman of the Commission fraudulently designed to dupe
unsuspecting victims.

“Nigerians are further advised to be suspicious of business
proposals with quick and high-profit returns; as it may be bait by
fraudsters to swindle them of their hard earned assets.”

He called on financial institutions to ensure strict compliance
with customers requirements before opening accounts for them under
the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.