EFCC Hands Over $225,895, ₦62.79m Recovered Funds To Foreign Victims

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 13, 2026, handed over a total sum of $225,895 (Two Hundred and Twenty-Five, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Five United States Dollars) and ₦62,790,000 (Sixty-Two Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) to foreign victims of fraud from the United States of America and South Africa.

The handover ceremony, which was presided over by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, featured representatives of the victims’ nations, including the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Mike Fukuda, and the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele

Commenting on the handover, Hammajoda noted that corruption remained a global menace that required collective efforts to combat.

“Corruption is like a cancer that eats into every fabric of our lives. It is cross-border in nature; therefore, we must join hands collectively to defeat it. Corruption has no borders, and if we do not fight it together, it will consume us all,” he said. He added that the EFCC remained committed to ensuring that recovered proceeds of crime are returned to their rightful owners.

“From our end at the EFCC, we are doing our best. Whatever we recover, we return to the victims, whether individuals, corporate organisations, governments or international victims. We also expect the same gesture from our sister agencies and collaborators across the world,” he said.

Speaking further on collaboration, restitution and asset recovery, Hammajoda urged international partners of the Commission in the United States, Europe, Asia, South Africa and other parts of the world to respond promptly to requests for cooperation.

“Whatever is due to Nigeria, we expect to receive it just as we make recoveries available to you. Whether you are in America, Europe, Asia or Africa, we expect the same cooperation,” he said.

During the ceremony, Fukuda received $7,440 on behalf of American victims of fraud: Drago Boskovic, $15,000, Anh Ngoc Nguyen and three others, Holly Ngo: $175,895 and ₦62,790,000.

Similarly, the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa, Lindi Mminele, alongside the victim’s lawyer, Elisha Sunday, received $50,000 on behalf of Ennis-Flint Africa Limited, a South African company.

Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mminele expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering and restituting victims.

“I would like to express my gratitude for the good work the EFCC has been doing. South Africa has witnessed that what the Commission is doing is real, as the victim company has experienced and seen the results of the work done,” she said.

She added that the South African High Commission values its longstanding relationship with the EFCC and looks forward to continued cooperation.

Also speaking, the lawyer to the South African victim company, Elisha Sunday, commended the Commission for its relentless efforts in combating economic and financial crimes.

“The best thing that ever happened to this country is the EFCC, because of the good work it is doing. I say this not because I am here, but because I have seen the dedication of the staff of the Commission. Their efforts are helping to restore confidence that people can still do business with Nigerians,” he said.

He also praised the Commission’s role in strengthening Nigeria’s reputation in the global financial system.

On his part, Fukuda commended the EFCC for its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of fraud.

EFCC

“I have seen the effort the EFCC has made in securing restitution for victims, and it is inspiring to me and my organisation.

I want to reaffirm our readiness to continue working with you. Your organisation is truly a world-class agency, and we are honoured to collaborate with you,” he said on behalf of the FBI and the United States Department of Justice.

ADC Seeks Immediate Cap On Petrol Prices As Global Crisis Drives Cost High

ADC seeks Immediate Cap On Petrol Prices As Global Crisis Drives Cost High. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to introduce a temporary cap on petrol prices to prevent further increases that it says are worsening the cost-of-living crisis for millions of Nigerians. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said while global oil market volatility linked to the crisis in the Middle East may be contributing to the latest price hikes, the government must act to protect citizens from the impact.

The ADC also urged the introduction of targeted palliatives for low-income Nigerians and criticised the Federal Government’s plan to distribute 100,000 CNG conversion kits, noting that the figure represents less than one percent of Nigeria’s over 11 million vehicles and questioning the limited availability of CNG refuelling stations across the country.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) calls on the Federal Government to immediately introduce a temporary and time-bound cap on petrol prices to prevent further increases that continue to push the cost of living beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.

Recent hikes in petrol prices reflect rising volatility in global oil markets, driven in part by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. However, the African Democratic Congress believes that external shocks cannot justify allowing fuel prices to spiral without restraint in an already fragile economy, one that continues to reel from the consequences of the Tinubu-led APC government’s abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy.

For everyday Nigerians, petrol determines the price of food, transportation, and survival. When petrol rises, everything else rises with it. This is why the African Democratic Congress urges the Federal Government to take urgent action to stabilize petrol prices. For once, the APC-led federal government should try to be responsible by taking responsibility for protecting citizens from the harshest consequences of the ongoing fuel price hikes.

We also call on the government to introduce targeted palliatives, particularly for low-income Nigerians who are most-affected by the impact of rising fuel prices.

The government must look beyond temporary solutions to real, scalable answers to Nigeria’s energy challenges. This is why the African Democratic Congress questions the practicality of the Federal Government’s recently announced plan to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits.
Nigeria has over 11 million vehicles on its roads. When placed in context, 100,000 CNG kits would reach less than one percent of the nation’s vehicle fleet.

A policy that touches only a fraction of vehicles cannot meaningfully address a national fuel crisis. Beyond that, the number of CNG refueling stations across the country remains extremely limited, raising serious questions about accessibility for ordinary Nigerians. If Nigerians cannot easily find where to refuel, then the policy risks becoming an announcement without real impact.

ADC

The African Democratic Congress therefore urges the Federal Government to pursue a more credible and comprehensive energy strategy that protects Nigerians from extreme fuel price shocks. Nigeria is an oil-producing country, and it should not be a place where the cost of petrol repeatedly pushes millions of citizens deeper into hardship

At a time of rising global uncertainty, protecting the welfare of citizens must remain the first duty of any government that knows what they are doing.

Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)

ICPC Links Multiple Million-Dollar Apartments, Villas In Egypt To El-Rufai: Sources

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has reportedly linked six real estate assets in Egypt to Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state.

TheCable understands that the properties were discovered during the commission’s probe of el-Rufai’s tenure as governor.

El-Rufai is yet to react to the allegations but has continued to maintain his innocence since his arrest, alleging that he is being persecuted for his political choices.

All the assets — three villas and six apartments — are said to be located in highbrow estates and areas in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Based on checks by TheCable, villas in Arabilla Estate and Banafsik Estate, both in New Cairo, are sold for between $1,000,000 and $1,300,000.

Meanwhile, apartments in Cairo Festival City have a price tag of around $500,000 each.

Sources privy to the ICPC’s investigation informed TheCable that the real estate assets in the North African country were purchased between 2021 and 2023.

El-Rufai was the governor of Kaduna during the reported period of acquisition.

S/N PROPERTY LOCATION QUANTITY HOUSE NOs
1 VILLA ARABILLA ESTATE, 5TH SETTLEMENT AREA, NEW CAIRO, EGYPT 1 113
2 VILLA BANAFSIK ESTATE, FIRST SETTLEMENT AREA, NEW CAIRO. EGYPT 1 18
3 VILLA ORIANA II, NEW CAIRO, (NEAR AMERICAN UNIVERSITY) EGYPT 1 11
4 APARTMENT CAIRO FESTIVAL CITY, NEW CAIRO, EGYPT 4 514,515,516 & 517
5 APARTMENTS ORIANA ESTATE, NEW CAIRO, EGYPT 2 4000 & 4100
‘I DON’T NEED MANSIONS, BIG HOUSES’

In a 2023 interview in Hausa, el-Rufai had said that, unlike some people, he “didn’t syphon the money to Dubai and buy houses or go to Jabi Road and build a mansion”.

Then, serving out his second term as Kaduna governor, el-Rufai had boasted of having only one house, saying he did not need mansions or big houses.

“We aren’t like such people. I became the Governor of Kaduna State with only one house located at Danja Street in Unguwan Sarki, Kaduna,” Daily Trust quoted him as saying.

“I have completed my tenure, Alhamdulillah…that is my only house. I don’t have any other house. I didn’t build a mansion. I don’t even need it.”

ICPC/EFCC PROBE, DSS GRILLING

The ICPC is probing el-Rufai over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as governor of Kaduna state between 2015 and 2023.

The former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 18.

The commission conducted a raid on his Abuja residence on February 19, during which wire-tapping equipment was reportedly discovered.

Before being taken into ICPC custody, el-Rufai had been grilled by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his allegation that the phone of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, was tapped.

The DSS has since filed a three-count charge against him for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation

Discover more
HIV prevention resources
Lagos events guide
Aviation industry reports
Anti-kidnapping devices
Sports news coverage
El-Rufai had also spent two nights at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his arrival from Cairo on February 12.

In 2024, the Kaduna state house of assembly indicted him over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, and demanded that anti-graft agencies investigate him.

EL-RUFAI FIGHTS BACK

The former director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has sued the ICPC over the alleged unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

He is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that the search and seizure carried out by operatives of the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force violated his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.

He is also asking the court to hold that any evidence obtained from the search is inadmissible in any proceeding against him.

He is further seeking an order restraining the respondents from relying on or tendering any material seized during the search in the course of any investigation or prosecution.

El-Rufai

The former Kaduna governor has demanded N1 billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages for what he described as trespass, unlawful seizure and the psychological trauma and reputational harm allegedly occasioned by the search.

FRESH LEGAL ACTION

El-Rufai has also accused the ICPC of defamation and forgery, threatening a separate legal action against the anti-graft agency.

In a pre-action notice, lawyers representing el-Rufai alleged that the commission issued a defamatory press statement and relied on forged documents in connection with his arrest and detention.

His family has also demanded his immediate and unconditional release from custody, saying his continued detention by the ICPC has no legal basis.

El-Rufai has maintained that the probe against him is politically motivated.

He said he is being investigated because of his membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), “the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria”.