The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has strongly denied allegations that it distributed N54 billion in forfeited assets connected to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele. The commission described the claims as baseless and unfounded.
In a statement released on Wednesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale labeled the accusations as “false and infantile,” asserting that no official within the commission participated in any such activity.
Oyewale emphasized that the legal framework governing asset recovery and management in Nigeria, as outlined in the EFCC Act 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022, categorically precludes the possibility of “sharing” forfeited assets.
The EFCC’s rebuttal follows a report from an online news portal that accused the commission of conspiring with government officials to distribute the N54 billion in assets forfeited by associates of Emefiele.
Oyewale reiterated the commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that all forfeited assets are deposited into designated accounts and managed strictly according to the law.
“The EFCC denounces as false the report by the online news platform, Sahara Reporters, alleging that N54 billion forfeited by some associates of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was ‘shared’ among certain ministers and aides of President Bola Tinubu, in collaboration with EFCC officials,” Oyewale stated.
He continued, “No official of the Commission was or has ever been involved in the ‘sharing’ of any proceeds of forfeited assets. The notion of ‘sharing of proceeds of forfeited assets’ is strange to the Commission.
“The sensational report which was promoted ostensibly to scandalise the agencies mentioned, betrays the author’s ignorance of the existing asset recovery and management framework. There is no ‘platform’ for the ‘sharing of forfeited assets’; the notion itself being infantile.
“The truth is, it simply did not happen! Dishing fiction to the public as news is the height of irresponsibility, and EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to defame its hard-earned reputation.”
