The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned 14 properties to the Enugu State government and 324 houses to Kano State pensioners, marking a significant milestone in the fight against corruption and asset recovery.
The properties, which were recovered by the EFCC through diligent investigation and prosecution, were formally handed over to the Enugu State government in a ceremony held at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.
The properties, valued at millions of naira, were forfeited by individuals and companies found guilty of corruption and fraud.
Similarly, the 324 houses were returned to Kano State pensioners who had been defrauded of their pension benefits by unscrupulous officials.
The houses, located in various parts of Kano State, were recovered by the EFCC through a painstaking investigation that exposed the fraudulent activities of the officials.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, commended the Enugu State government and Kano State pensioners for their patience and cooperation throughout the investigation and recovery process.
He assured that the EFCC would continue to work tirelessly to recover stolen assets and bring corrupt individuals to justice.
Olukoyede said, “What we are witnessing testifies to a symbiotic relationship that should exist between the federal government and the state governments.
“Our people deserve the benefits of good governance, and that is what is being showcased here today.
“If you look at the history of this particular matter, it takes us back to 2007 when we started the prosecution. So we are looking at about 17 years since the matter has been on.
“Eventually, some of the properties were forfeited, and since then, the EFCC has been managing those properties, even though the titles of quite a number of the properties have been revoked by the Enugu State government.”
The Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, who received the properties on behalf of the state government, expressed gratitude to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering the stolen we for the fraudulent activities are brought to justice.
Mbah said, “The significance of this event can never be lost on us, and we do not also take it for granted.
“So I want to take this opportunity to convey my profound gratitude to the chairman and members of the EFCC team that have brought us to where we are today.
“This is a journey that began several years ago, and we are marking a formal closure to that journey here today; a journey that saw the successful prosecution of certain companies in possession of assets belonging to the people of Enugu State.
“Without the proactiveness and speed at which President Bola Tinubu acted on our request to cede these assets to the people and government of Enugu State, we wouldn’t have been here today.
“I will not end this remark without acknowledging the work the EFCC chairman is doing in strengthening this very important institution. It is important that we do not weaken our institutions. Whatever we do in governance is transient.”
