EFCC hands over $127,000, N70.6m to fraud victims in US, Spain

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over $127,892.43 and N70,602,841.46 recovered from Nigeria to victims of fraud in the United States, Spain, and Switzerland.

The assets were officially presented to representatives of the respective countries at the EFCC headquarters on Friday.

Charles Smith, legal attaché of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), received $26,581 and N40,602,841.46 on behalf of victims from the United States.

Additionally, the EFCC returned two luxury cars — a Mercedes Benz E550 4Matic and a Mercedes Benz C450 AMG — along with a residential bungalow located at 17/19 Seaman street, Unguwar Maigero, Kaduna state, for onward transmission to the affected individuals.

Andreas Baum, Switzerland’s ambassador to Nigeria, accepted $100,011.43 for a Swiss national defrauded in Nigeria.

Similarly, Maria Velasco, acting Spanish ambassador to Nigeria, received $1,300 and N30,000,000, designated for a Spanish victim.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling financial crimes and ensuring justice for victims.

He said the federal government is dedication to good governance and international cooperation in fighting fraud.

He also warned that individuals who knowingly hold on to proceeds of crime are considered accessories under the law.

“Our being here is a demonstration of the commitment of the federal government of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the fight against corruption and financial crimes,” Olukoyede said.

“We also recover to restitute the victims. And it’s important for us to know that within the purview of our law, if you are a recipient of proceeds of crime and you sit over it, you are an accessory to the crime.”