Tag: EFCC
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Again, EFCC traces Abuja posh assets to Patience Jonathan
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has traced two more assets to former First Lady Patience Jonathan, who is being investigated by the Commission for alleged money laundering.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the latest development has brought the number of assets (under investigation) allegedly belonging to the former first lady to 15.
However, the list does not include the six choice plots traced to her in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The commission said it suspected the assets were allegedly bought through three firms – Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation; Finchley Top Homes Limited; and AM-PM Network Limited.
The EFCC has initiated moves to seize the assets, which are in Abuja.
Besides the three firms, the roles played by seven banks in acquiring the assets are also being investigated.
A Special Task Force is probing the relationship between the three firms and the former First Lady.
Specifically, detectives are probing how Mrs. Jonathan allegedly used the proxy firms to secure six choice plots in the Central Business District(CBD), Abuja, Wasa District, Idogwari District, Karsana and Mabushi in the FCT.
The plots are:
- 1758, Cadastral zone B06, Mabushi, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010;
- 96, Cadastral Zone D05, Karsana, allocated to AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 31/05/2012;
- 7109, Cadastral Zone E10, Wasa District, allocated to AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 27/03/2013;
- 30, Cadasrtal Zone D03, Idogwari District (AM-PM Global Network Limited vide a letter of intent dated 23/10/2014);
- 1758, Cadastral zone B06, Mabushi (Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation vide a Right of Occupancy in 2010); and
- 1350 Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reach Out Foundation in 2010. The and Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) issued in 2011.
A source said: “A Special Task Force is looking into how Mrs. Jonathan allegedly laundered huge sums of money into the accounts of three companies. These shell firms were in turn used to acquire some plots of land and properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.
“We have already written to the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) and seven banks linked with the plots of land and the two properties.
“Apart from the statements of account of the three companies., our team is in touch with Abuja Geographical Information Service(AGIS) for information about some properties linked to the affected firms.”
The source spoke of how the investigators found that two properties were already being developed, allegedly by the former First Lady on Plot No. 1758 Cadastral zone B06 Mabushi and Plot No. 1350 Cadastral zone A00 Central Business District
“We discovered that on Plot No. 1758 Cadastral zone B06 Mabushi, which was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010 and C of O issued in 2011, eight mighty buildings are being built. Most people believe it is proposed to be a hotel.
“Also, Plot No. 1350, Cadastral Zone A00 in Central Business District, currently bears an eight-storey building still under construction. The plot was allocated to Ariwabai Aurera Reachout Foundation in 2010 and C of O issued in 2011.
“Inference may be drawn from the above, considering the fact that the suspect’s last known official position was Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Government.
Hence, there is no way such magnificent architectural edifices could have been built within a short space of time as it is the case with the properties in question.”
The EFCC believes that there is high probability that the property could have been built with proceeds of crime.
“It is evidently clear that it is a case of money laundering but there is need to do more to prove the predicate of the offence,” the source said, pleading not to be named so as not to jeopardise the investigation.
The agency is awaiting responses from banks, CAC and AGIS.
Besides, it is making efforts to get information about Finchley Homes Limited, its directors and all properties with bank accounts linked to them.
The source confirmed that the EFCC might “request for the interim forfeiture of the two properties.
“This is particularly very important because attempt to mark the properties, by operatives, was resisted and even the portion that was successfully marked was later cleared by agents of the suspect,” the source said.
With the latest bend of investigation, 15 properties and six plots of land have so far been traced to the former First Lady in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa and Abuja.
Besides the two properties in Abuja, 13 others were previously linked with the ex-First Lady.
The assets in Port Harcourt are former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of four-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel along airport road.
The rest suspected assets in Yenagoa include two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway, which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha Expressway.
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Court adjourns hearing on EFCC’s bid to seize Diezani’s houses
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday adjourned till September 22 hearing of an application for final forfeiture of 58 houses allegedly belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
She allegedly bought the houses between 2011 and 2013 for $21,982,224 million (N3, 320,000,000 billion).
Listed as first to sixth respondents in the suit are – Mrs. Alison-Madueke, Donald Chidi Amamgbo and four firms – Chapel Properties Limited, Blue Nile Estate Limited, Azinga Meadows Limited and Vistapoint Property Development Limited.
Justice Chuka Obiozor adjourned to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) respond to an objection filed by one of the respondents.
The Commission’s lawyer, A. Ozioko said: “We have obtained an interim order in respect of this suit and the case was adjourned till today (Friday) for report and to also allow the respondents to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited.
“But this morning, we were served with a motion on notice by one Mr. Nnamdi Eze Anochie. We ask for time to respond and to take the application for final forfeiture.”
Justice Obiozor granted the prayer for an adjournment.
Justice Abdulaziz Anka, who sat as a vacation judge before Justice Obiozor took over, ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties on August 22 following an ex parte application filed August 16 by the EFCC.
He authorised the EFCC to appoint a firm to manage the properties and gave the respondents 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judge directed the agency to publish the order in any national newspaper and adjourned till Friday.
Ozioko told Justice Anka that Mrs. Alison-Madueke paid $16,441,906 (N2.6billion) cash in several tranches and another $5,540318 (N840,000,000) cash for the properties through four ‘front’ firms which held the titles in trust for her.
He listed the firms as Chapel Properties, Blue Nile Estate, Azinga Meadows and Vistapoint Property Development.
Ozioko said the Commission had discovered 14 other firms incorporated for the ex-minister for the purpose of holding the titles to those properties.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke, he added, purchased the properties from the proceeds of suspected unlawful activity during her stint as minister.
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EFCC conducts better investigations than Police, Army, DSS, others – Magu
..says the fight against corruption now total
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Thursday said the Commission investigates better than any law enforcement agency in the country including the Police.
Magu said this while responding to questions about the commission conducting shoddy investigations and prosecuting ineffectively
“We investigate better than any other law enforcement agency in this country, including the police,” he said.
Magu said he does not interfere with the work of investigators, adding that once any intelligence is received, the investigation must be concluded.
The EFCC acting chair also declared that the war against corruption “is now total”.
The commission, he said, is more determined than ever to fight corruption to a standstill and to sustain “the current momentum”.
“We’re now going to declare total war on corruption. It is our responsibility to crush corrupt practices in this country,” he said.
Magu spoke when he paid a courtesy call on The Nation head office in Lagos.
He described the biggest challenge to the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s anti-graft crusade as “corruption fighting back”.
“It’s real and they (those fighting back) have all the money,” he said.
Magu said there were no fewer than 125 high profile corruption cases still “hanging in court”.
On the delay of such cases, Magu blamed it all on Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), who he said were used by rich and powerful suspects to frustrate cases.
“How can 31 SANs go to court to defend one (suspected) looter? Sometimes judges are intimidated. Why should 31 SANs appear for a suspect? We need to ask questions,” Magu said.
He said such lawyers adopt several strategies to delay cases, some of which have spent nearly 10 years in court.
“They abuse the court process, file all kinds of applications and go on appeal, which goes up to the Supreme Court and back. They adopt different technicalities and delay tactics. Sometimes they provoke the judges and write petitions against them.
“But I don’t control the judges. We don’t have control over what happens in court. Our role is to investigate,” he said.
Magu denied allegations that EFCC does shoddy investigations and prosecute ineffectively.
“We investigate better than any other law enforcement agency in this country, including the police,” he said.
Magu said he does not interfere with the work of investigators, adding that once any intelligence is received, the investigation must be concluded.
The Acting EFCC chairman denied any rift with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“I am a law-abiding citizen. I respect constituted authority,” Magu said, adding that he duly handed over the list of high profile cases as requested by AGF Abubakar Malami (SAN).
On loot recovery, Magu said one of EFCC’s strategies was to recover assets and funds suspected to be proceeds of crime by applying to the court for interim forfeiture orders, publishing a 14-day notice for the owners to show up, and then applying for a final forfeiture.
He said the EFCC had appealed the acquittal of former Adamawa State Governor Bala Ngilari, who was discharged by an Appeal Court sitting in Yola of corruption charges.
Magu denied that former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, who is under EFCC investigation, had retrieved properties seized from him by the commission.
“We have not released any property to Sylva,” Magu said.
On his non-confirmation by the Senate, Magu said: “I strongly believe in God. When it’s time to leave I’ll leave.”
On the threat by the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units to expel the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for not being an independent entity, Magu claimed there were moves to meet the group’s demands long before the Senate intervened.
He said before the Senate’s move to completely remove NFIU from the EFCC, there were moves to make NFIU a separate unit within the anti-graft agency and to secure the tenure of its director so it is not tied to that of the EFCC chairman.
According to him, granting NFIU “some security and operational autonomy” was what the Egmont Group demanded.
He believes the Senate’s move to pass a law to make the NFIU independent of the commission was a bid to “weaken the workings of the EFCC”.
Egmont Group was created to provide Financial Intelligence Units around the world a forum to exchange information confidentially to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and other predicate offences.
Magu said the shooting at the EFCC had been referred to the police.
“There is a real threat, but we are used to it,” he said, adding that the department that was attacked had been transferred to a safe location.
He said the war against corruption could not be successfully fought without media support.
“I believe all journalists are corruption fighters. Let everybody do the right thing. Let us mobilise everybody’s support in the fight against corruption. Consider yourself as if working for the EFCC.
“Corruption is the worst developmental problem we have in this country. We need more support. This fight is for our collective good.
“We should not allow ourselves to be purchased to the detriment of our co-existence. We need to mobilise everybody. Let’s do it together.
“We need your collective support in whatever we’re doing. You have supported us and we ask for more support. We owe a duty to this country. We must do the right thing for our collective good.
“We’re not going to completely kill corruption, but we have a collective responsibility to reduce it,” Magu said.
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We are not investigating CJN, Walter Onnoghen – EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday debunked claims that it was investigating the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen as earlier reported exclusively by The Punch.
Aside from Onnoghen, the report, also listed other heavy political weights like, former first lady, Patience Jonathan; former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; serving Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi); and the Minister for Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi a Judge of the Federal High Court, Audu Kafarati, among others.
Clearing the air on the alleged probe, the anti-graft body in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, said, though, there were petitions filed against Mr. Onnoghen at the time he was under consideration for his current position, the agency found no valid claim in the allegations and, as such, he was not under investigation.
“The Commission wishes to state categorically that it is currently not investigating Justices Onnoghen and Kafarati,” stated Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesperson for the EFCC.
“While Onnoghen was being considered for his present position, the Commission received some petitions which were investigated and found to be without merit and discarded.”
Uwujaren said the report could create disaffection between the EFCC and the judiciary.
He, however, did not deny the commission was investigating other politically exposed persons, like Messrs. Fayemi, Fayose, Yahaya Bello, Godswill Akpabio and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, among others.
The newspaper had reported that its story was sourced from a document sent, containing list of high profile suspected corruption cases, to the Attorney -General of the Federation by the EFCC.
“It is important to state that this report did not emanate from the EFCC and the allusion to “an EFCC source” is diversionary and mischievous.
“For the avoidance of doubt, cases under investigation communicated to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation by the Commission are classified information and it is troubling how such would be leaked to the media.
“Indeed, much damage has been done to the Commission’s investigation activities by this leak especially as some of the cases mentioned are still at preliminary stages of investigation.,” said Mr. Uwujaren.
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Patience Jonathan shuns EFCC reopens Abuja hotel
The wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan has reportedly recovered her N2 billion hotel which was sealed off by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in June.
The EFCC had placed the red inscriptions, ‘EFCC Under Investigation’ all over the hotel which is located near Setraco Construction Company, off the Mabushi Kado Expressway.
However, in a report by Punch, the five-story building with the EFCC inscriptions had been covered with patches of grey paint.
When asked, the security men said they acted on the instruction of Mrs Jonathan.
One of them said, “Go and ask the EFCC if they had the right to put their sign all over the building in the first place. If you want more information, go and ask madam.”
The spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said he did not know much about the seizure of the building and thus could not say if it had been returned to Patience or not.
He said, “I have spoken to the appropriate people but I was not able to get any answer on the matter.”
In his reaction, Mrs Jonathan’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said he was not aware of the seizure of the property.
Adedipe said if the hotel in question was indeed seized through a court order, then the removal of the EFCC inscriptions would be of no effect.
He, however, boasted that all properties and funds seized from the former first lady would be returned to her soon.
Adedipe said, “I am not aware of the seizure of property. If the EFCC seal was removed from the property, let them go and put another one. In any case, we have sued the EFCC for abuse of her human rights and human dignity. The matter is pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja and everything has been included in that suit.
“We are challenging all the seizures because without prejudice to our case, Mrs Jonathan was neither a public officer nor a contractor. So, the idea of harassing her beats my imagination.
“I don’t see the basis for the EFCC’s harassment of that woman and the case wears a political toga because she was a formidable element during the campaign.”
Mrs Jonathan had in May 2016, laid claim to about $15 million found in bank accounts allegedly belonging to a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.
She subsequently sued Skye Bank Plc and the EFCC. The commission then went ahead to freeze her personal account with a balance of $5 million.
The anti-graft agency had also frozen bank accounts belonging to her relatives and friends including business mogul, Bola Shagaya.
Her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, had complained about the harassment of his wife by the commission while Patience had also written a petition to the House of Representatives asking the lawmakers to caution the EFCC and stop harassing her and her relatives.
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Court approves EFCC’s power to freeze suspicious accounts
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the power of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the power to freeze suspicious accounts.
The court said the anti-graft agency can direct banks to suspend operation of accounts suspected to have been used for criminal activities, or any account of into which slush funds and proceeds of crime have been deposited.
The court, however, said such a directive by the EFCC to banks must be followed by an order of a court for interim freezing, which it must obtain from a competent court, to enable it conduct investigation to ascertain the origin of the funds.
The appellate court said these in a unanimous judgment by its three-man panel on an appeal by Messrs A. R. Security Solutions Limited, which challenged the refusal by a Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate an interim freezing order earlier granted against it.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on January 25, 2016, granted an ex-parte application by the EFCC for, among others, an interim freezing order on A. R. Security accounts with Heritage Bank.
However A.R. Security later applied to the court to have the order set aside, a request Justice Nyako, in a ruling on April 22, 2016, refused, prompting the company to approach the appellate court.
Justice Mohammed Mustapha, who prepared the lead judgment of the appellate court, resolved the sole issue raised for determination against the appellant.
The issue was whether the trial court was right to have held that the EFCC could obtain an order of court to temporarily freeze the appellant’s account, once the account is the subject of investigation.
Justice Mustapha said while the EFCC was empowered, under sections 28 and 29 of its establishment Act to trace, attach and apply for interim freezing order on such suspicious accounts, the court, under Section 44(2)(k) of the Constitution, was empowered to grant such interim injunction.
He said: “The respondent (EFCC) clearly bears the burden of establishing that there is a prima facie evidence that the property in issue is liable to be forfeited on account of its being proceed of crime.
“That burden is discharged once there is an arrest for an offence under the Act (EFCC Act), and the respondent traces the assets and attaches the property of the accused person acquired as a result of economic and financial crimes. That done, the respondent is entitled to an interim attachment order by the court.”
Justice Mustapha agreed with the appellant that the EFCC must show that the origin of the suspicious funds is illegal.
He added: “If bank accounts have to be investigated with any degree of success for the purpose of tracing criminality in transactions, how else can that be done without exercising some degree of control over the account?
“It stands to logic and common sense that any serious investigation of criminality in a bank account has to first and foremost start with taking control of the bank account or at least putting restraints on the account; anything short of that will be quixotic, because funds in the account investigated will simply take a flight. That is the logic behind sections 28 and 29 of the Act.
“Prima facie proof starts, for the purpose of the Act, with arrest of the accused person for financial and economic crimes, which now denotes, at this stage, that the monies in the account are likely proceeds of crimes, and therefore, liable to forfeiture, thus necessitating the grant of the interim order.
“It is for these reasons that the money in the accounts is fair game, because that attachment and proper investigation of such accounts will assist the respondent (EFCC) in prosecuting the accused successfully or consequently lead to the discharge of the order, depending on how the investigation goes.
“The need for credible evidence, showing the money to be proceeds of crime, underscores the necessity for the respondent’s mandate to ‘immediately trace and attach’ the property.”
He added that the grant of the interim order by the court was to enable the EFCC conduct a holistic investigation on the account to enable it establish whether or not the origin of the funds in the affected account was illegal.
“It has to be pointed out that ultimately, it is for the same reason that the grant of interim order becomes necessary, as it explains the necessity for the respondent to have, not only access, but control of the account, by having it frozen, anything else might end up being pyrrhic for the respondent,” Justice Mustapha said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that other members of the panel – Justices Abubakar Datti Yahaya and Tani Yusuf Hassan – agreed with the lead judgment.
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EFCC submits 103 high profile cases to AGF
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made available, the details of the high profile cases it handled to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The recent list which was reportedly sent to the AGF’s office, comprised 103 high-profile cases.
“Those on the list, it was learnt, include top-ranking judicial officers, including a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Federal High Court, and a sacked justice of the Court of Appeal.” Punch reports
Buhari’s cabinet, and others serving their terms in the Senate.
Other politically-exposed persons named in the list are some former ministers, senators and some persons being investigated for the $2.1 billion arms purchase scam.
The report says no names were made public in order not to compromise investigation, but that investigations were said to have been completed in majority of the cases while investigation was stalled in some of them due to “disappearance” of the suspects from Nigeria.
“Some of the cases are still at intelligence-gathering stage, while some are at investigation stage.
“There are some that are the stage of charges being drafted while some are already ongoing in court but foot-dragging,” Punch quotes an unnamed EFCC source.
The Special Assistant to the President on Prosecutions and Chairman of the newly-constituted Recovery of Public Property Panel, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla confirmed that the EFCC had now yielded to the AGF’s request and that the AGF’s office had received the list from the EFCC but, refused to give details.
Obono-Obla, who works under the AGF, said the ICPC would send its list to the AGF when the new chairman of the commission is inaugurated.
“They are cooperating. They have sent the details of the cases we requested to us,” the presidential aide said.
When asked whether the AGF will by its action take over the prosecution of the cases from the EFCC, Obono-Obla said the AGF’s request was in line with constitutional and statutory provisions conferring on the AGF the supervisory authorities over the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies.
He said, “The essence of getting the file was not to take up the prosecution. The essence is in line with the law that says the Attorney-General of the Federation is the chief prosecutor of the country.
“All those agencies are under the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation. So, we have to know what they are doing.
“We have to see what they are doing, so that if they are not doing the right thing we will advise them accordingly. The office of the AGF is as old as this country; the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation is as old as the country.
“These are some of the oldest institutions in this country. They have a lot of experiences.”
When asked to give the details of the list received from the EFCC, he said, “I don’t want to go into the details for now. At the appropriate time, we will let you know what we have seen and what we are going to do.”
When reminded of his earlier claim that both the EFCC and the ICPC were not cooperating with the AGF, Obono-Obla said, “Yes, I said so initially, but they are cooperating now because they now know that the law is very clear and that there is what we call EFCC enforcement regulation which was made by the office of the AGF pursuant to section 43 of the EFCC Act.
“Also in the constitutional provision, section 150(1) of the Constitution, section 174(1) of the constitution, sections 105 to 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, it is very clear that the AGF is the chief prosecutor of the Federation and the EFCC is under him.”
He said there was no pressure from higher authorities before the EFCC submitted the details requested to the AGF’s office.
The presidential aide said, “The law is clear. I don’t think there had to be any superior intervention. I have mentioned the constitution, the administration of Criminal Justice Act and the EFCC Act.
“The laws are very clear that they have to comply with the request of the AGF. The AGF can request files from any law enforcement agency in Nigeria and the law enforcement agency is obliged to comply.”
Denying any face-off between the AGF and the EFCC, he said it probably took the anti-corruption agency so long to respond to the AGF’s request because of the number of cases spanning over a decade that had to be compiled by the agency.
He said, “Well, they have not refused (to comply), we have the details from them now. Maybe they were taking their time. As I told you before, most of these cases are old cases from 2003 to 2004.
“So, if you make a request, it will take them time to put all the cases together. But as I told you, there cannot be any question of, they not obeying us. They cannot afford not to obey the Attorney-General of the Federation.”
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Corruption: EFCC recovers over N430.8b, secures 137 convictions in eight months – Magu
…Says ‘I’m not fighting anyone’
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on Wednesday confirmed that the commission has so far recovered over N430, 849,162,174 billion in eight months.
The funds recovered are N409, 270, 706,686.75; $69, 501,156.67; £231,118.69, €610,816.20; Dr. 443,400.00 (Dirham) and SR70, 500.00 (Saudi Riyal).
He also said the EFCC has secured 137 convictions within the same period under review.
The anti-graft chairman, however, said he is not fighting anybody and he has no issues with anyone.
Although he said he meant no harm in pursuing the fight against corruption, he vowed to fight the menace to a standstill.
He urged the media to remain undaunted in supporting the EFCC.
Magu, who spoke at a session with representative of media organisations in Abuja, said the battle against corruption was already half won.
He said: Gentlemen of the press, regardless of the challenges that we have faced and continue to face, I am happy to report that we are making progress.
“Many of you are aware of the achievements that we have recorded in the fight against corruption, especially in the area of assets recovery. Two (three) days ago, we got the court to forfeit to the Nigerian Government a sum of N7.6billion which was hidden in a Nigerian bank by former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
“Two weeks earlier, another court issued a temporary forfeiture order to seize properties worth $21,392,224)belonging to the same former minister. Those properties are awaiting final forfeiture.
“Over a month ago, the commission recovered over N329billion from a group of oil marketers for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). These are major recoveries from a sector of the economy. But to give a holistic picture of the aggressive drive to recover stolen wealth, I have the pleasure to report that the commission, between January and August 30, 2017, recorded the following monetary recoveries: N409, 270, 706,686.75; $69, 501,156.67; £231,118.69; €610,816.20; Dh 443,400.00 (Dirham); and SR70, 500.00( Saudi Riyal).
“In the area of prosecution of cases in court, we are also making progress despite the antics of some persons accused of grand corruption to delay trial.
“Between January and August this year, EFCC recorded 137 convictions. The potentials for improvement are good as more cases are brought to conclusion in the remaining four months of the year,” he added.
Magu also opened up on the purported rift between him and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami.
He said he had no issues with anybody and not after anyone.
Magu said: “Ladies and gentlemen, it would be naïve for anyone to expect the fight against corruption to be smooth; you should expect resistance and opposition which are expressed in various guises.
“From what we read in the papers these days, it is either somebody is fighting Magu or Magu is fighting other people.
“ I know that journalists want to sell their newspapers, but seriously speaking, instead of fighting ourselves, we should be united in fighting the common enemy, which is corruption.
“Personally, I am not after anybody and have no issues with anybody. Those who think they have issues with me will soon discover that I mean no harm. What drives me is the passion to do what is right by ensuring that we fight corruption to a standstill in this country.
“I believe in self-discipline, I respect authority. The AGF is number one minister, there is no reason for conflict.
“This is a fight for all of us, it is not just one person. Nobody can claim ownership, nobody has a monopoly of knowledge in fighting corruption. We need everybody on board now that the fight against corruption is getting tough.
“It has never been this tough. Corruption is fighting back. We are fighting corruption to ensure a better life for Nigerians and so that the next generation can be comfortable. It is not for our selfish interest.
“The way we are going, the corrupt elements have already failed, the battle is already half won but we must sustain the momentum. But the media is vital, the media is very key to the sustenance of the momentum. We must be united in fighting corruption because it is poison.”
On the setting up of a centre by the AGF to assist law enforcement agencies in investigation and prosecution, the Acting EFCC chairman said the agency was “ready to work with the centre.”
“Setting up committees or centres to work with law enforcement agencies has been done severally. It is just to bring in additional prosecutors to add value to what we are doing.
“Already, we have 137 convictions in eight months. Can you find out even if there is any law enforcement agency that recorded 10% of what we secured? We are ready to work with them.”
He debunked the notion that the EFCC has been indulging in media hype.
He said: “With all these media disclosures, we are just trying to be very transparent so that if you are not there, the records will be there.
“If there are things we are doing wrong, tell us. If there are things we are doing right, tell us so that we can improve.
“This meeting is part of my ongoing interface with critical stakeholders. Of course, there is no gainsaying the fact that the media remains the most important ally of the EFCC in the fight against corruption.
“We owe the media a debt of gratitude for whatever success we have recorded in the last two years. More importantly, we are convinced that the media remains strategic for future success of the EFCC and the fight against corruption in our country.
“I have not called you here to lecture you on anti- corruption. I am here to listen to you, to know what we are getting right and areas where we need to improve. I will be taking notes.
“This conviction inspired my decision to meet with you in this informal setting to interact and exchange ideas on the way forward in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
Remarkable as this feat is, we are not resting on our oars. We believe there is still a lot to be done which is the reason why we are actively seeking the support of all stakeholders, including the media.
“We do not pretend to have a monopoly of knowledge on how to win the war against corruption.
“The anti-corruption campaign requires a concerted effort. I enjoin members of the public, including the media, to be part of this effort by reporting cases of corruption to the EFCC.”