THE Federal Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, has taken delivery of the 753 housing units in Abuja recovered by the EFCC from the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.
Olukoyede, at the handing over ceremony to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, vowed: “We will monitor the completion and transparent disposal of the properties.”
The development unfolded at a time when the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), rallied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen asset recovery and management in Nigeria.
Dangiwa commended the EFCC leadership for the sustained efforts in the fight against corruption and recovery of public assets, noting: “This marks a significant milestone in our collective determination to ensure that recovered assets are put to productive use in ways that directly benefit the Nigerian people.”
He explained that a comprehensive technical evaluation would be undertaken to determine the cost of completing all outstanding infrastructure and ancillary facilities, including perimeter fencing, internal roads, drainage systems, a police post, shopping areas, recreational centres, and other essential amenities.
Olukoyede said the move was a demonstration of the impact of the fight against financial crimes and corruption in the country, as captured in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
At a one-day event yesterday in Abuja, both organisations engaged key Nigerian anti-corruption stakeholders to boost asset recovery and management.
Speaking at the programme, CFTPI’s Executive Secretary, Dr Umar Yakubu, underlined that asset recovery was pivotal to the nation’s development and trust-building with citizens.
On his part, the Director General of GIABA, Edwin Harris, lamented the level of stolen wealth in Africa.
Citing former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s report under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Harris, who was represented by Tim Melaye, explained that between $88 and 94 billion is being stolen from the continent yearly.
continent,” he stated.
EFCC boss, Olukoyede, said the commission has been intentional in its asset recovery smove in the past years.
