Anti-graft Agency Recovers N566bn, $411m, Others In 2 Years

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed that under his leadership, the agency has made progress in the fight against economic and financial crimes in the last two years by recovering over N566 billion alongside other currencies and assets.

He made this disclosure yesterday in Abuja to journalists at the commission’s corporate headquarters as part of activities marking his second anniversary in office.

Olukoyede, appointed on October 18, 2023, and confirmed by the Senate the following day, said the period witnessed major reforms and record-breaking achievements across all operational fronts of the commission.

The EFCC’s boss, who spoke through the director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Commander of the EFCC, CE Wilson Uwujaren, said between October 2023 and September 2025, the ommission received over 19,000 petitions, conducted 29,240 investigations, filed 10,525 cases in court, and secured 7,503 convictions.

He disclosed that within the same period, the commission recovered ₦566,319,820,343.40, $411,566,192.32, £71,306.25, €182,877.10, and other foreign currencies from proceeds of financial and economic crimes.

Olukoyede also announced the recovery of 1,502 non-monetary assets, comprising 402 properties in 2023, 975 in 2024, and 125 in 2025.

Among these recovered assets are two notable landmarks: the final forfeiture of 753 units of duplexes in Lokogoma, Abuja, and the forfeiture of Nok University, now the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State,” he said.

The EFCC chairman described the recoveries as tangible evidence of the Commission’s renewed drive to trace, confiscate, and return illicit assets to the Nigerian state and fraud victims.

He listed several high-profile cases prosecuted during the period, including former governors Willie Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Darius Ishaku, Theodore Orji, and Yahaya Bello. Others are former ministers Olu Agunloye, Mamman Saleh, Hadi Sirika, Charles Ugwu, and former Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele.

He said the commission arrested 792 suspects involved in investment and cryptocurrency fraud in Lagos in December 2024, among whom were 192 foreigners who were prosecuted and deported.

“This development sent a strong message that Nigeria will not allow its territory to be turned into a safe haven for cybercriminals,” Olukoyede stated.

He added that the EFCC also revisited and revived several longstanding corruption cases, including those involving Fred Ajudua, former People Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Haliru Bello Mohammed, former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, and former Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) boss Ngozi Olojeme.