EFCC South-South Zone Secures 26 Convictions, Recovers Over N1 Billion

The South-South Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ishaq Salihu, today disclosed that the zone has secured 26 convictions and recorded over a billion Naira recoveries in the last ten months. He made the disclosure at the zone's maiden media briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

"In the last 10 months, we have upped the ante in the fight against graft in the South-South Zone with remarkable success. In 2015, we secured 18 convictions and recovered N420,922,599.38.  This year, we have already secured 26 convictions and recovered one billion, sixty million, two hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred and sixty eight Naira, sixty kobo (N1,060,215,268.60) and Ninety One thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty US Dollars ($91,650) for both the federal government and individuals," he said.

He challenged journalists in the zone to partner with the EFCC in the fight against corruption. “We invited you here to update you on our activities in the South South Zone of the Commission and to encourage you to use your medium to educate the public on the activities of criminals and fraudsters who are bent on destroying our nation and reaping where they have not sowed,” he said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu for their support and commitment to the anti-graft war. “Let me state that our success would not have been possible without the unflinching support of President Muhammadu Buhari who provided the political will and the enabling environment for the fight against corruption to thrive. Also, the no-nonsense approach of the Ag. Executive Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who read the riot act to staff once he got the mandate to lead the crusade.”

He also seized the opportunity to inform the media of the fraudulent activity of one Dr. Love Iwori Arugu, 53, a senior lecturer at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Though currently being prosecuted for offences bordering on issuance of dud cheque and obtaining by false pretenses , two new cases with similar ingredients involving her, confirms Arugu as a serial offender. “We want the public to be aware of this in order to prevent others from falling prey,” he stated.
Wilson Uwujaren 
Head, Media & Publicity 
12th October, 2016