EFCC hands over recovered assets, $50m to foreign victims

The Federal Government has handed over recovered assets including cash worth over 50 million US dollars to Spanish, Switzerland, and US governments for onward transmission to the victims of financial exploitation.

At the handing over of the assets, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede said the restitution became necessary to restore Nigeria’s dignity in the fight against Financial Crimes.

Mr Ola Olukoyede told the representatives of the US Embassy, Spanish and Switzerland governments that the move was a demonstration of commitment of the present government led by President Bola Tinubu to change the narrative about Nigerians in the area of cybercrime.

The EFCC Chairman who presented the documents on behalf of the government urged foreign countries to reciprocate the gesture by returning Nigeria’s stolen assets in their custody.

Responding on behalf of the Victims, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Maria Higon Velasco and the United States of America, Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Legal Attache, Charles Smith thanked the EFCC for the quick recovery and return of stolen money by some syndicates.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ahmed Dunoma explained that the development would enhance the nation’s integrity and restore Investors’ confidence in Nigeria.

Other Items returned to the rightful owners by the EFCC include about 70 million Naira, two Marcedes Benz, and one residential bungalow in Kaduna.

Reporting by Samuel Adeyinka; Editing by Chinasa Ossai