Nigeria’s two leading anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recovered N277.69 billion and $106 million in the past year while securing a total of 3,468 convictions, News360 Nigeria reports.
The Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed these achievements on Monday during a press briefing by the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) in Abuja.
According to Mijinyawa, the EFCC recovered over N248 billion, $105 million, and 753 duplexes as part of its asset recovery efforts, in addition to securing 3,455 convictions as of October 2024. He praised the agency’s leadership under Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, highlighting key reforms such as the creation of the Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) department, restructuring of zonal offices, and launching EFCC 97.3FM to enhance public education on financial crimes.
Internationally, the EFCC strengthened partnerships with global agencies like the FBI and the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, recovering assets for foreign fraud victims. Olukoyede’s role as President of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) further bolstered regional collaboration in combating corruption.
The ICPC, on its part, recovered N29.685 billion, $966,900, and restrained or forfeited an additional N10.8 billion in unspent funds from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Through its Constituency and Executive Projects’ Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), the ICPC tracked 1,500 projects across the country. It also processed 851 petitions, investigated 243 cases, took 63 to court, and secured 13 convictions.
Mijinyawa described the achievements as an “unprecedented milestone,” reflecting the commitment of the anti-graft agencies to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability. He further revealed that four former governors, three ex-ministers, and a former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, are currently on trial for financial crimes.
In addition, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) leveraged AI-driven innovations to improve financial intelligence and foster regional collaboration on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) standards. The NFIU’s efforts aim to delist Nigeria from the FATF grey list by 2025.
Mijinyawa also commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its role in combating illicit drugs. In 2024 alone, the NDLEA arrested 14,480 individuals, including 15 drug barons, seized 2.37 million kilograms of drugs, and secured 2,867 convictions. The agency also rehabilitated 6,655 individuals through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
These achievements, Mijinyawa concluded, underscore Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle corruption, illicit financial flows, and drug abuse, while strengthening governance and accountability systems nationwide.
