The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has refuted claims that some of its personnel participated in distributing funds forfeited by associates of the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The report in question alleged that a total of ₦54 billion was seized and subsequently divided among certain ministers, presidential aides, and EFCC officers.
According to The PUNCH, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, dismissed these allegations, stating, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission denounces as false the report by the online news platform, which alleges that ₦54 billion forfeited by some associates of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, 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 from forfeited assets. The notion of ‘sharing of proceeds from forfeited assets’ is alien to the Commission.”
Oyewale further emphasized that the report’s author appeared to lack understanding of the current asset recovery and management procedures.
He pointed out that both the EFCC Act of 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime, Recovery and Management, Act of 2022 clearly outline the accounts designated for funds obtained through forfeitures.
“There is no ‘platform’ for the ‘sharing of forfeited assets’; the notion itself being absurd. Otherwise, the news platform would have provided information about when and how the sharing took place and who received what,” Oyewale said.
He concluded by asserting, “The truth is, it simply did not happen! Presenting fiction as news is the height of irresponsibility, and the EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to defame its hard-earned reputation. The public is urged to disregard this falsehood.”
