The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has debunked insinuations that it has concluded investigations into the $3billion loot traced to late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja, Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren assured that the Abacha probe is still ongoing, same as many other pending cases of corruption.
While revealing that the agency secured 117 convictions out its 533 cases in 2013, he disclosed that investigations into the alleged N255m bullet proof cars scam involving former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, are also ongoing.
“About $2.550bn of the $3bn has been recovered so far by the Federal Government from Abacha’s accounts and from his family”, he said.
This amount, he explained, are voluntary surrender ($750m), Switzerland ($570m), Jersey ($380m), UK ($150m), Luxembourg ($300m) and Liechtenstein ($400m). He also revealed that few months after the 13th year anniversary of the dictator’s death, £22.5m (N6.18billion) stockpiled in the Island of Jersey was also recovered.
“Another £20million is being investigated as part of the outstanding $450million. We have done substantial work on Abacha’s loot, but we have not totally closed the matter”, he said.
“In investigating financial crime of this nature, a case of this nature is not totally closed. If there are issues on Abacha’s loot, we will still investigate them. But we have not concluded the probe of the loot”.
He also offered explanations on the allegations against Oduah, saying EFCC is working actively on them.
“The commission is on top of the case of the bullet proof cars”, he assured. “In due course, we will update you. As you know, no responsible anti-graft agency will give you insight into what it is doing at the investigation stage. But we will let you know the outcome of our investigation very soon”.
Speaking further, Uwujaren said that since the rate of conviction is the globally accepted benchmark for assessing the effectiveness of anti-corruption law enforcement, EFCC could very well celebrate a successful 2013.
“In 2013, the commission charged a total of 533 cases to court and recorded 117 convictions. This conviction figure represents an improvement over the 105 conviction recorded in 2012”, he said, adding that the figures prove a steady progression in convictions return which is heart-warming, considering the depths of impediments against the agency in its prosecution of economic and financial criminals.
