Abuja: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday returned $225,895 and ₦62.79 million to fraud victims from the United States and South Africa.
EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, the handover ceremony was presided over by the Commission’s Secretary, Mohammed Hammajoda.
The ceremony included participation from representatives of the victims’ countries, notably the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the FBI, Mike Fukuda, and the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele, who both received funds on behalf of their respective nationals.
Hammajoda noted that corruption remained a global menace that required collective efforts to combat.
“Corruption is like a cancer that eats into every fabric of our lives.
”It is cross-border in nature; therefore, we must join hands collectively to defeat it.
”Corruption has no borders, and if we do not fight it together, it will consume us all,” he said.
He added that the EFCC remained committed to ensuring that recovered proceeds of crime are returned to their rightful owners.
“From our end at the EFCC, we are doing our best. Whatever we recover, we return to the victims, whether individuals, corporate organisations, governments or international victims.
”We also expect the same gesture from our sister agencies and collaborators across the world,” he said.
Speaking further on collaboration, restitution and asset recovery, Hammajoda urged international partners of the commission in the United States, Europe, Asia, South Africa and other parts of the world to respond promptly to requests for cooperation.
“Whatever is due to Nigeria, we expect to receive it just as we make recoveries available to you. Whether you are in America, Europe, Asia or Africa, we expect the same cooperation,” he said.
Fukuda received $7,440 for American victims Drago Boskovic ($15,000), Anh Ngoc Nguyen and three others, and Holly Ngo ($175,895 and ₦62,790,000).
Mminele and the victim’s lawyer, Elisha Sunday, received $50,000 for Ennis-Flint Africa Limited.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mminele expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering and restituting victims.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the good work the EFCC has been doing.
”South Africa has witnessed that what the Commission is doing is real, as the victim company has experienced and seen the results of the work done,” she said.
She said the South African High Commission values its partnership with the EFCC and looks forward to ongoing cooperation.
The lawyer for the South African victim company, Elisha Sunday, commended the Commission for its relentless efforts in combating economic and financial crimes.
Fukuda also praised the EFCC for ensuring justice for fraud victims.
