From Attah Ede Makurdi
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Command, Monday, said it has recovered over N800 million and secured 164 convictions in the last eight months in Benue State.
The zonal director, Makurdi Zonal office, Dr Anselem Ozioko, disclosed this during his interaction with newsmen in Makurdi.
Ozioko, who oversees Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states under the command, said under his watch the command has also recovered over 12 vehicles, several motorcycle among other gadgets.
He said, “I assumed office on the 18th of April 2024. When I came we engaged a lot of stakeholders including security enforcement agencies, the media, and there was a lot of collaborations and that yielded a lot of positive results.
“Within the period under review, we recorded 164 convictions and recovered about N800 million.
“We also recovered over 12 vehicles, several motorcycle and countless number of gadgets and things within that family.”
The Zonal Commander, who noted that they were not magicians, attributed their huge success to the hardworking staff of the command and the collaborative efforts of Benue stakeholders.
“We did a lot of sensitization, we also changed our strategies which yielded positive results…
“I give a lot of credit to my colleagues for being very effective and efficient, they were highly resourceful, thinking outside the box and other major stakeholders for intelligence we received which at the end of the day also yielded positive results”
Ozioko also disclosed that the command have over 350 matters in court which are ongoing explaining that “some are cases borne out of sting operations, some are normal cases involving embezzlement of funds, some also include Political Exposed Persons (PEPs).
“We have cases involving billions, we have other matters on assets and we are digging deep. I believe that at the end of the day our efforts will not be in futility.”
He urged the general public to report any matter that relates to financial or economic crime saying the commission has the mandate to investigate and prosecute offenders.
