The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Umar Abba, disclosed that the Commission recorded 646 convictions and recovered more than N11 billion in monetary assets this year, despite the restriction imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Umar Abba said this while addressing the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6 2020.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the Senate Committee had expressed the desire of the Upper Legislative House to see a reformed and rebranded EFCC.
This, according to the committee, will help in its fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes in the country.
Mr Uwujaren also quoted the EFCC boss, Umar, as telling the Senate Committee that the Commission has earned the confidence and trust of Nigerians because of its unblemished professional disposition.
“The EFCC is doing remarkably well above all other law-enforcement agencies in the country and that is why the UNODC and National Bureau of Statistics in the 2017 survey they conducted ranked EFCC as the most effective government agency in Nigeria,” Umar said.
Reacting to the issues of seized vehicles by the Commission, Abba expressed pain at the deteriorating state of assets in the custody of the EFCC.
“We are working on this challenge and I am sure the Attorney General of the Federation is coming out with a gazette so that this issue will be a thing of the past. It involves not only vehicles but also landed properties,” he said.
The EFCC boss used the occasion to acquaint the legislators with the challenges confronting the agency, including: the lack of adequate personnel and office accommodation, especially in the Commission’s zonal offices), and the lack of internet facility, Information and Communication Technology equipment, among others.
He canvassed for the support of the committee in overcoming these challenges through appropriation.
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