The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), says it has recovered $153 million and 80 choice properties worth $80 million from a former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison Madueke.
Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, while revealing this, noted that it is difficult to bring her back to the country to serve justice as she is currently in Britain, outside the agency’s jurisdiction.
“There are several cases surrounding Diezani’s case. I was part of that investigation, and we have done quite a lot. In one of the cases, we recovered $153 million; we have secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million. We have done quite a bit on that.
“The other cases as it relates to the $115 million INEC bribery is also ongoing across the federation. We are looking forward to the time we will, maybe, have her in the country, and, of course, review things and see what will happen going forward. The case has certainly not been abandoned. Bawa said.
On how he would be dealing with powerful government officials in the discharge of his duties, Bawa expressed his willingness to quit the job if anyone tries to make him engage in illegal acts.
“I am not going to pay allegiance to individuals in the government.
“The only job I know after graduation is the EFCC, which I joined in 2004. I rose through the ranks from an ordinary team member, to the first EFCC team leader from the regular staff of the EFCC.
“ I became a sectional head, became the zonal head in Ibadan, zonal head in Port Harcourt, and zonal head in Lagos. Lagos is the biggest operational hub of the EFCC with over 600 personnel. Port Harcourt is next to it in terms of complexity and staff strength. I happen to be the first EFCC regular staff to head three different zones before my appointment as the chairman.”
“The records are there. And it is a challenge I have taken upon myself to do without fear or favour. That is the truth. If anybody is coming to ask me to do something that is contrary to my conscience or what the EFCC is set out to achieve, I’m going to resign” Bawa promised.
