EFCC secures 3,440 convictions on financial and cyber crimes from Jan to Nov-Bawa

By Muhammad Salim

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said, it has secured 3,440 convictions on financial and cyber crimes from January to November, 2022.

The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa made the revelation, during a financial crime reporting workshop, for some selected journalists in Kano.

Abdulrasheed Bawa, represented by the Kano zonal commander, Farouk Dogondaji noted that, the commission would work in collaboration with the independent national electoral commission to ensure adoption of the new electoral act in the forthcoming general elections.

He described journalists as partners in progress, who were at the workshop to improve their capacity, to be able to help in the fight against cyber and financial crimes in the country.

“Remarkable as this feat is, we are not resting on our oars. We believe there is still a lot to be done which is the reason why we are actively seeking the support of all stakeholders, including the media.”

In  her paper titled, “Challenges of Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes in Nigeria,” the Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution, Aisha Tahar Habib,  hinted that, although Section 6 of the Commission’s laws empowered them to investigate and prosecute persons suspected to be holding illegal money and properties, it is, however, highly difficult to get the original person behind illicit transactions.

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She stated that, they have had 160 criminal convictions losing only two and 180 civil convictions losing only one in Kano State adding that this put the conviction rates at over 90 percent.

The deputy director, identified challenges that stalled financial crimes prosecutions such as unwarranted acts of defence counsels, constant cases adjournment and elevation or transfer of judges.

Two other papers were presented on ‘Best practices in financial crimes reporting’ by Dele Oyewale and ‘Peculiarities, Trends and typologies and challenges of cyber crimes enforcement in Nigeria’ by Buhari Nuru Dalhatu.