We don’t share forfeited funds, Says EFCC

Eric Patrick

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has denounces a report by Sahara Reporters, alleging that N54billion forfeited by some associates of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele  was shared among certain ministers and aides of President Tinubu, in collaboration with EFCC officials.

 

This was contained in a statement signed by the EFCC's Head, Media and Puicity, Dele Oyewale on Wednesday.  

According to the statement, No official of the Commission was, or has ever been involved in the sharing of any proceeds of forfeited assets.

Oyewale further stated that the notion of sharing of proceeds of forfeited assets is strange to the Commission. 

 The statement read, "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."

On Tuesday, August 20, THEWATCH AFRICA reported that a Nigerian online news outlet, Sahara Reporters published a story alleging that a portion of the forfeited funds, amounting to N54 billion, was distributed among certain ministers and aides of President Tinubu, in collaboration with EFCC officials. 

The report further claimed that some of President Bola Tinubu’s ministers and aides have been accused of sharing over N54 billion from the N120 billion forfeited to the Federal Government by Aminu Yaro and his wife, Saadatu Yaro. 

According to Saraha Reporters, Yaros, who were associates of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, reportedly agreed to forfeit the funds as part of a plea bargain with the EFCC to drop pending criminal charges against them.