On Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria handed over $180,300 and 53 vehicles to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). These assets were fraudulently taken from Canadian citizens by some Nigerians through cybercrimes.
The handover ceremony, held in Abuja, marks a significant step in the ongoing fight against international financial crimes.
At the event, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede stressed the importance of international cooperation in combating financial crimes.
He said, “This is an occasion we are using to demonstrate our commitment to fighting financial crimes and to also collaborate with other countries and agencies around the world. It’s common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe.
“It has become a global problem. The people who perpetrate these crimes do so in a way that shows their activities are borderless and barbaric.
“They employ various means to ensure they move across jurisdictions. That’s why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world.
“Most countries are collaborating with us in the fight against financial crimes. What you are witnessing today is a demonstration of that reinforced commitment. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been collaborating with us.
This collaboration has resulted in many recoveries and the impact of joint operations.”
“We are here today to witness the handover of assets recovered on behalf of Canadian victims of cybercrime. The operations have taken a couple of years and have resulted in a substantial recovery.”
“It is important for us to let our colleagues and friends from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police know that as an agency, the EFCC, and as a country, Nigeria is always ready to fight financial crimes. Nigeria should not necessarily be seen as a hub of financial crimes. It is a transit town, as are Canada and most countries across the world because people move from one jurisdiction to another.
“This is also a demonstration that the Nigerian government will never tolerate any act of financial crime.”
“The Nigerian government does not tolerate financial crimes. Not only that, we will pursue, investigate, recover, prosecute, and ensure that victims are restituted. That is what we are doing today.”
“In total, 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims. In one instance, $164,000 was taken from Elena, and $16,300 was also recovered. These will be handed over to the Canadian police to return to the victims.”
