Nigeria's anti-graft agency returns $225,895, ₦62.79m to international scam victims

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, handed over $225,895 and ₦62,790,000 to foreign victims of fraud from the U.S. and South Africa on Friday, in a ceremony that underscored the agency's commitment to restitution. This gesture was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the EFCC and its international partners.

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According to EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the handover ceremony took place in Abuja, with the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, presiding over the event. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the victims' nations, including the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Mike Fukuda.

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Mohammed Hammajoda emphasized that corruption is a global menace that requires collective efforts to combat, likening it to a cancer that affects every aspect of life. He stressed that corruption is cross-border in nature, necessitating a unified approach to defeat it.

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Hammajoda reiterated the EFCC's commitment to returning recovered proceeds of crime to their rightful owners, whether individuals, corporate organizations, governments, or international victims. The EFCC expects the same level of cooperation from its sister agencies and international partners in the global fight against corruption.

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In his remarks, Hammajoda urged the commission's international partners in the United States, Europe, Asia, South Africa, and other parts of the world to respond promptly to requests for cooperation. He emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation, stating that Nigeria expects to receive what is due to it, just as it makes recoveries available to its international partners.

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During the ceremony, Mike Fukuda received $7,440 on behalf of American victims of fraud, including Drago Boskovic, who received $15,000, Anh Ngoc Nguyen, and three others, while Holly Ngo received $175,895 and ₦62,790,000. The Acting High Commissioner of South Africa, Lindi Mminele, alongside the victim's lawyer, Elisha Sunday, received $50,000 on behalf of Ennis-Flint Africa Limited, a South African company.

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Lindi Mminele expressed gratitude to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering and restituting victims, acknowledging the tangible results of the commission's work. The South African High Commission values its longstanding relationship with the EFCC and looks forward to continued cooperation in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

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Elisha Sunday, the lawyer to the South African victim company, commended the EFCC for its relentless efforts in combating economic and financial crimes. Mike Fukuda also praised the EFCC for its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of fraud, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in this regard.