CACOL APPLAUDS ANTI-GRAFT AGENCY OVER RETRIEVAL AND RETURN OF STOLEN PROPERTIES TO SOURCE, CALLS FOR OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership CACOL has praised the Economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) and the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) for the consistency and commitment they have shown, especially under the current dispensation in tackling issues of grand sleaze and retrieval of stolen assets belonging to the public.

In a release issued by the anti-graft organization’s Media and Publications Officer, Odofin Toyin, on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Centre, Mr Debo Adeniran he stated, “We would recollect that, just of recent, the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu revealed that, as part of the efforts to curb government expenditure and corruption, the anti-graft agency has recovered over 800bn (Eight Hundred Billion Naira) both in hard and local currency within the last 3years. As commendable as these patriotic efforts are, we reiterate the rights of Nigerians to know the whereabouts of the repatriated funds garnered from alleged looters.

“Howbeit, some of the agencies which received the properties included: Voice of Nigeria (VON), Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Presidential Initiative on the North-East and Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme. It was gathered  that one of the properties, a mansion located at 6, Ogun River Crescent, Maitama, had allegedly belonged to a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.) now deceased, who was standing trial for alleged N3bn (Three Billion Naira) fraud. Another seized property, Briffina Hotel, Garki Area 1, was once owned by Dr Sani Teidi, a former director of Pension Accounts, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, who is standing trial before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged N18.3bn (Eighteen Billion Naira, Three Hundred Million Naira) fraud.

The CACOL boss enthused, “We think that having experienced a season of intensified war against public looting of our national patrimony and official debasement, it was high time we called on the anti-graft agencies to give an account of what they have achieved or how they have dispensed with recovered looted funds, properties and other valuables since the beginning of this administration till date. This would restore greater public confidence as well as enable majority Nigerians to know the esteem those in the position of power and authority hold the public.”