The Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered N211,134,927.26; $136,289 and £765 from January till date.
The head of the Ibadan zonal office, Mr. Friday Ebelo, made the disclosure while addressing a press conference in commemoration of the 2019 International Anti- Corruption day.
He said within the same period, the Ibadan zonal office secured 171 conviction, temporary fixing of 1,044 bank accounts, impounded 56 automobiles and 14 houses while it received 691 petitions.
213 of the petitions were said to be returned unapproved as issues raised therein did not fall under the purview of its mandate.
It also arrested 878 persons with 268 prosecuted.
He said, “For the Ibadan zone, the last one year witnessed a beehive of activities with unprecedented successes as the zone contributes its modest quota to the global fight against corruption. In the last one year, particularly from January 2019 till date, the zone received 691 petitions. 213 of these were returned unapproved as issues raised therein did not fall under the purview of our mandate. In the course of investigations, the zone arrested 878 persons.
“Out of the 268 prosecuted, 171 have been convicted. Our investigations also led to temporary fixing of 1044 bank accounts, while 56 automobiles and 14 houses were impounded. We equally have several laptops android phones and many other electronic devices confiscated in compliance with court orders.
“In the period under review, the zone also recovered on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria huge sums of money in both local and foreign currencies. These include a total of N211,134,927.26 (Two Hundred and Eleven Million, One Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Twenty Six Kobo). For the foreign currencies, we had $136,289 (One Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-Nine United States Dollars), €2000 (Two Thousand Euros) and £765 (Seven Hundred and Sixty-Five British Pounds).”
On the International Anti-Corruption day, Ebelo maintained that the time had come for all Nigerians to stand to be counted in the fight against corruption, stating that corruption posed an existential threat to the survival of all as individuals and as a nation.
“We must personalise the fight against the monster if we truly desire a corruption-free Nigeria. We can’t sit on the fence and expect success in this campaign. We must all get involved. It is a winnable war if only we show doggedness and commitment.
“Apart from other activities, the EFCC has decided to mark this important event with a road walk across all its zonal offices and the Abuja head office. This is necessary to create more awareness among the citizens and let them understand why it is important to lend their voice and be actively involved in the anti-corruption campaign.”
