The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted reports claiming that its officials shared forfeited assets connected to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele and his associates.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale dismissed the allegations as “strange” and “infantile,” emphasizing that the agency’s officials have never been involved in such activities.
Oyewale attributed the online publication’s claims to “ignorance and mischief,” highlighting that the existing asset recovery and management framework clearly outlines the procedures for handling forfeited assets.
He cited the EFCC Act, 2004, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, which specify the accounts into which proceeds of forfeited assets are to be paid, leaving no room for “sharing” or misappropriation.
Full Statement
EFCC Officers Don’t “Share” Forfeited Funds
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, denounces as false, the report by the online news platform, Sahara Reporters, alleging that N54billion forfeited by some associates of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele was “shared” among certain ministers and aides of President Tinubu, in collaboration with EFCC officials”.
No official of the Commission was, or has ever been involved in the “sharing” of any proceeds of forfeited assets. The notion of “sharing of proceeds of forfeited assets” is strange to the Commission.
The sensational report which was promoted ostensibly to scandalise the agencies mentioned, betrays the author’s ignorance of the existing asset recovery and management framework. Both the EFCC Act, 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, are unambiguous in terms of the accounts into which proceeds of forfeited assets are to be paid.
There is no “platform” for the “sharing of forfeited assets”; the notion itself being infantile. Otherwise, Sahara reporters would not have withheld information about when and how the sharing took place and who got what. The TRUTH is, it simply did not happen!
Dishing fiction to the public as news is the height of irresponsibility and EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to defame its hard-earned reputation.
The public is enjoined to trash the lie told by Sahara Reporters.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
