CSOs Ask EFCC Chairman To Intensify Anti-corruption War

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to retreat and or surrender in its war against corruption in the country.

The CSOs also said under the leadership of Bawa, records showed that the commission secured a total of 3,785 convictions in 2022. 

The lead director, CSGGG, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, who briefed newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the conviction is the largest record of prosecutorial engagements of the commission in its 19 years of existence. He said an even greater feat was recorded in 2022 showing that the achievements of 2021 were not a fluke. Ogakwu said available records show that the commission secured a total of 3,785 convictions in 2022.

He said, “This indicates a 70.5 per cent improvement over its record for 2021 (2,220 convictions), as well as representing a 98.93 per cent success rate in prosecution as the anti-graft agency lost only 41 cases, representing 1.07 per cent in 2022.

“It is important to note that in 2015, the commission recorded about 103 convictions, 195 in 2016, 312 in 2018, and 1280 in 2019. It dropped to 976 in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

“It wasn’t just about convictions as over $121 million worth of assets were forfeited to the federal government. In the same period, €156,925, ¥21,350 CFA300,000, 52 automobiles, one motorcycle, 57 electronic gadgets, 78 pieces of clothing were also recovered. With monetary recoveries for the year under review, from January 1st to October 31st, 2022, put at N134,337,759,574,” he said.