The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned $132,362.43 and N78,566, 324.81 to American, Spanish and Swiss victims of local fraudsters.
It said the gesture underscored the commitment of the agency to offering restitution to victims of fraudulent practices.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale on Friday said the handing over, was performed by the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, at the EFCC’s headquarters, Abuja.
Olukoyede said: “The event is a demonstration of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria and that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the fight against corruption and financial crimes.
“A commitment to good governance, a commitment to stimulating the economy and a commitment to prove to the entire world that Nigeria is not a safe haven for financial crimes, a commitment to international cooperation and international synergy in the fight against financial crimes, which you will agree with me has become a global crime.
“We are here to demonstrate that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is ready to do everything possible to prevent financial crimes from being perpetrated in our system, and when one has taken place, to investigate where assets are involved, to trace, to recover and, where necessary, prosecute.
“We don’t just recover, we restitute the victims. We are here this morning to restitute those who were victimised through the perpetration of economic and financial crimes.
“It is important to know that once proceeds of crime are recovered, the most responsible thing to do is to restitute the victims.”
Other recovered items also returned to their owners include vehicles and real estate to citizens of Spain, United States of America and Switzerland.
Acting Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Maria Higon Velasco, received the sum of $1,300 and an evidence of N30 million already transferred to the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria for onward transmission to a victim, Maria Del Rosario San Jose.
The Senior Political Officer, First Secretary, Embassy of Switzerland, Florent Geel, received $100,011.43 on behalf of a victim, Chantai Helene Lavancy, formerly known as Chantai Helene Maeder.
Also Legal Attache, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Embassy of the United States, Charles Smith, received the sum of $7,344, N7,963,483.35, and Bitcoin cryptocurrency valued at $4,470.00 on behalf of the United States Embassy in Nigeria for onward transmission to a victim, Maria Jesus Brockell.
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