EFCC Convicts 257, Recovers N14.1bn, $5.7m, €31,500

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC), Lagos Zonal Office says it has convicted 257 persons between May 2019 and early June, 2020.

The Commission also said it had recovered the sums of N14, 099,952,688.22, $5, 723, 042 and €31,500 within the period, as well as secured the forfeiture of 32 properties out of the 61 recovered.

Those convicted included politically exposed persons, across various courts in the state

The Zonal Head of the Lagos Office, Muhammed Rabo, said this on Thursday in a statement by the Zone’s Head of Public Affairs, Ayo Oyewole.

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“Also, from May 2019 till date, the Zone has arrested 1,444 suspects, filed 585 cases in various courts and arraigned over 300 persons, including Ismaila Mustapha, also known as Mompha, and his alleged conspirator, Hamza Khoudeih, before a Federal High Court in Lagos allegedly for various criminal offences.

“We also have several ongoing high profile cases before the Federal High Courts, Ikoyi and the State High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, “Rabo said.

He stated that the zone would not relax its independently launched intensive actions against internet fraudsters.

The Zone, he said, would not relax its “independently launched intensive actions against internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, which began in 2019 before the collaborative operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, tagged ‘Operation Rewired’ in 2019.’”

“In fact, we are prepared, more than ever before, for a more robust collaboration with the FBI this year.

“The collaboration last year led to the arrest of many fraudsters in different parts of the state, some of whom are being prosecuted in courts already,” Rabo said.