Millions in Naira, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Recovered in 2021, Says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday disclosed that it recovered the aggregate sums of N152.1 billion, $386.2 million, £1.2 million, €156,246, 1.7 million Saudi Riyal, 1,900 South African Rand, and 1,400 Canadian Dollars between January and December 2021.

Reviewing its operational activities for last year, EFCC in a statement gave the total of the figures recovered from various persons, within the year to be:

N152, 088,698,751.64,
$386,220,202.84,
£1,182,519.75,
€156,246.76,
1,723,310.00 Saudi Riyal,
1,900.00 South African Rand,
and 1,400.00 Canadian Dollar.

The recovery basket, according to the antigraft agency also included a digital currency component with 5,36957319 Bitcoin and 0.09012 Ethereum.

Topping the recoveries was the EFCC Abuja Headquarters with a total of N67, 249, 744, 994.89, $375,662,223.59 and £1,151,539.75.

Following the HQ was the Lagos Command which led the Naira recoveries with N70, 315,611,260.52, $9,286,497.83 and £21,500.00.

EFCC stated that its Kaduna Zonal Command emerged third in terms of Naira recoveries with a total of N3,339,405,723.93.

The Ibadan Zonal Command, however, took the same third position in terms of Dollar recoveries to the tune of $387,385.00.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in his statement explained that the monies recovered include direct and indirect recoveries for the different tiers of government (Federal, State and Local Governments), corporate organizations and individuals (victims of crime) within the year (2021) under review.

The commission in 2021 secured its highest number of convictions since its inception.

Before last year, the highest record of convictions by the EFCC was secured in 2019 with 1,280 convictions. However, 2021’s figures were 127.5 percent higher than the 2019 record.

The 2021 record represented a 98.49 percent success rate in prosecution as the antigraft agency only lost 34 cases during the year under review.

In his remarks, Bawa hailed the commission’s personnel for the performance, urging them to redouble their efforts to ensure that perpetrators of economic and financial crimes are denied the benefit of the proceeds of their crimes.