The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly denied allegations that its officials, along with ministers and aides of President Bola Tinubu, were involved in the sharing of forfeited assets.
The denial follows reports claiming that the EFCC distributed N54 billion forfeited by associates of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele. In response, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale labeled the publication as false and misleading, insisting that the concept of sharing forfeited assets is completely foreign to the commission.
“No EFCC official has ever engaged in such activities,” Oyewale asserted, urging the public to disregard the report. He further explained that the EFCC Act of 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act of 2022 provide clear guidelines on the management of forfeited assets, with all proceeds being deposited into designated accounts, thereby eliminating any possibility of “sharing” or misappropriation.
“The sensational report, seemingly intended to scandalize the agencies involved, reflects the author’s ignorance of the established asset recovery and management procedures,” the statement added. The EFCC emphasized that both the EFCC Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act are explicit about where the proceeds from forfeited assets should be directed, dismissing the idea of asset sharing as baseless and unfounded.
