The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Office has secured the recoveries of N217, 666, 230 (Two Hundred and Seventeen Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand Two Hundred and Thirty Naira) from January to date. The money is made up of N213, 850, 230 (Two Hundred and Thirteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Naira) and $10,600 (Ten Thousand, Six Hundred United State Dollars).
The Zone also secured 66 (Sixty Six) convictions and recovered several buildings and vehicles during the period under review.
Similarly, the zone has also secured the interim forfeiture of 47 exotic cars owned by yahoo-yahoo fraudsters; a 16 block, 96 flats and bungalow, multi-million naira estate/hotel, 2 schools, 1 shopping plaza, 1 supermarket complex, all allegedly belonging to the former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and his family members and 1 ultra modern hospital suspected to owned by one of his former aides.
Other properties awaiting interim forfeiture include a twin 3 storey building with a 3 bedroom bungalow and a duplex in Enugu.
The acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu made this disclosure in Enugu while briefing the media on the activities of the internet fraudsters also known as Yahoo-Yahoo and the Commissionโs collaboration with the United State Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the activities of the internet fraudsters.
Magu who was represented by the Zonal Head of the Commission, Usman Imam described the collaboration as very fruitful and promised that the EFCC will not rest on its oars until the fraudsters are completely tamed and annihilated.
โWhat the yahoo boys are doing is gradually destroying the positive image of Nigeria; therefore, concerted efforts by everyone were needed to stem the ugly trendโ, he said.
โYes, with the high rate of cyber crime and indeed other forms of corruption in the country, no one needs reminding us that we have serious troubles to contend with and there is no time to tackle it other than now. Now is the time to reclaim and rebuild Nigeria, now is the time to say no to all the negative things that have made us a laughing stock among the comity of nations. Tomorrow may be too late, with corruption, a better tomorrow is unfortunately a mirage,โ he explained.
โHere in Enugu Zonal Office, our operations against cyber crimes which necessitated many raids in Enugu, Anambra and Imo so far, usually follow petitions and intelligence reports from individuals and in some cases, other sister law enforcement agencies.โ
โFor example, one Okpara Promise who was arrested in Owerri, Imo State after discreet surveillance was conducted on him had his house searched and an incriminating document bearing Federal Bureau of Intelligence Certificate of Inheritance, was recovered in the suspectโs email address [email protected] on his laptop computer which was forwarded to the office of the Legal Attache, United State Consulate, Victoria Island, Lagos for confirmation from FBI . Thereafter, a response from FBI revealed the said document to be false which formed the charging of the case to court wherein the suspect was later convicted,โ he disclosed.
Magu however called on parents, the clergy and traditional rulers to take their God-given responsibilities of not only inculcating on the young ones those positive values that Nigerians were known for in the past but also to resist the temptation of eulogising criminals and enjoying their ill-gotten wealth.
In his own words: โIt is unacceptable to see parents enjoying ill-gotten wealth of their children who they clearly know have no identifiable means of livelihood. Such also applies to the clergy and traditional rulers who rather than question suspiciously acquired wealth not only attribute it to God, but also bestow chieftaincy titles on such individuals.โ
Magu equally charged the media to go beyond their routine news gathering and engage in investigative journalism with a view to exposing criminals in the society.
โThe media, being a critical stakeholder in the fight against corruption must go beyond the normal reportage of news to serious investigative news gathering to expose the corrupt among us. Rather than do this, we have discovered that virtually all electronic media in the zone, especially radio station knowingly or unknowingly provide platform for operators of ponzi schemes posing as genuine businesses.โ
While assuring of EFCCโs unalloyed commitment to seeing a better Nigeria, Magu warned operators of Ponzi scheme in the zone, looters of Nigeriaโs commonwealth and other fraudster of the Commissionโs resolve to put them out or at best, chase them away from the zone as he warned that their actions would certainly catch up with them.
