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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday handed over a total of $180,300 and 53 vehicles, fraudulently taken by some Nigerians from Canadian citizens to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the return of the recovered vehicles and funds, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, stated that the Canadians were victims of cybercrimes.

He stressed that recovering and returning the assets reinforced the commission’s commitment to fighting financial crimes.

The EFCC Chairman said the event also emphasised the need for countries to collaborate to tackle financial and other forms of crime.

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.”

Olukoyede noted that although the operations spanned several years, they ultimately led to significant recoveries.

He said, “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.”

Olukoyede stated that Nigeria should not be seen as a hub of financial and other crimes, adding that the country does not tolerate criminal activities.

He said, “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 EFCC Chairman pledged to investigate, prosecute, and recover assets for victims of financial crimes.

He said, “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.”

Speaking on the recoveries, he said $164,000 was taken from Bogomas Elena, while one Sandra Butler was defrauded of $16,300.

He said, “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.”

Providing background on the recovery process, Zonal Director of the Lagos Directorate, Micheal Wetkas, said the Canadian police approached the commission in 2012 regarding stolen vehicles that had gone missing en route from Canada.

He said, “All they provided us with were the vehicle registration numbers. From there, our team quickly traced the vehicles. At one point, we realised the scale of the operation, which was quite large, and it became known as Operation Hot Wheels.

“It was a joint operation between us and Canadian police officers. This collaboration led to the recovery of the 53 vehicles handed over today. Among them, nine were tracked from a vessel transporting them abroad back to Nigeria. That is the brief story behind the operation.”

He said Bogomas’ case was a romance scam reported to the commission.

“An intelligence-led investigation was painstakingly conducted, and investigators discovered that the fraudster had used the proceeds to purchase real estate in Lagos. This property was traced, confiscated, and the assets returned.

“Today, we are celebrating the recovery of $164,000 on behalf of Bogomas. The fraudster has been convicted, and another suspect is still on trial,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Canadian Police, Premier Secretary and Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, Robert Aboumitri, commended the EFCC for their efforts.

He said, “This is a testament to your professionalism and commitment to combating crime. I also cannot conclude my remarks without thanking the Government of Nigeria. If I may, Mr Executive Chairman, I’d like to add that we cover multiple countries, and many of them would be envious of the work you are doing here.

“This shows that you are one of the key partners in West Africa in the fight against crime. Thank you very much. We highly value this partnership and would like to elevate it to the highest level possible.”

The scheduled second interrogation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by the police did not hold on Thursday as Ajaero and the NLC Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who was also invited, did not show up at the police headquarters in Abuja.

Our correspondent, who was at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja where the labour leaders were billed to appear for interrogation, saw neither Ajaero nor Ugboaja.

However, a source familiar with the situation said the NLC leaders had written investigators that they would not be available for Thursday.

“They did not show up. I am aware they have written those handling their case that they wouldn’t be coming today. They asked them to expect them on September 25,” the source said.

Counsel for the NLC, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), who accompanied Ajaero to the police headquarters for his first appearance on August 29, had told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that the labour leaders might likely seek a postponement of the interrogation.

Speaking further on the matter on Thursday, Falana said, “We wrote for another date as Comrade Joe Ajaero has an engagement outside Abuja today.”

The police are quizzing Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion,

Counsel for the NLC, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), who accompanied Ajaero to the police headquarters for his first appearance on August 29, had told one of our correspondents on Wednesday that the labour leaders might likely seek a postponement of the interrogation.

Speaking further on the matter on Thursday, Falana said, “We wrote for another date as Comrade Joe Ajaero has an engagement outside Abuja today.”

The police are quizzing Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

His invitation came in the wake of a night raid by the police on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.

The police are alleging a link between the labour leader and a Briton, Andrew Wynne, who has been accused of financing the recent #EndBadGovernance or #Hunger protest in the country to allegedly overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

Following Ajaero’s first appearance on August 29, the police, in another letter signed by the Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ibitoye Alajide, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, asked him to appear again on Thursday, September 5, alongside with the NLC General Secretary “to answer questions over alleged criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to property.”

The letter read: “In furtherance of investigations into the alleged case of criminal intimidation, conducts likely to cause breach of public peace and malicious damage to properties in which your name featured, you are requested to come along with Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department, FID, through the undersigned, at SPO’s Room 112, 2nd Floor, Force Intelligence Department (FID) Complex, Shehu Shagari Way, opposite Force Headquarters Area 11, Garki, Abuja on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at 11 am.”

When contacted by The PUNCH on Thursday over the non-appearance of the invited labour leaders, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, promised he would get back to our correspondent.

He had, however, yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, congratulated Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, on the launch of petrol from his refinery.

In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Atiku also criticized the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government for its policies, which he claims undermine private sector confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

Recall that on Tuesday, Dangote officially announced the launch of Premium Motor Spirit, or petrol, from its refinery.

At a press conference, Dangote described this milestone as a significant breakthrough for the country, which had previously not produced any petrol for many years.

Reacting, the former Vice President said, “Let me congratulate and appreciate the efforts of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the Dangote Refinery begins production of PMS. It demonstrates his tenacity and ‘can do’ spirit and his belief in his fatherland.

“This remarkable accomplishment is beyond a demonstration of the business acumen of just one man. It is also a manifestation of what corporate Nigeria can do to recover the Nigerian economy and make it strong, dynamic, and resilient. This resonates with my dream of having an enlarged private sector presence in the Nigerian economy. I am an unrepentant advocate for a strong and visible participation of the private sector in strategic sectors of the economy, either alone or in partnership with the state.

“Nigerians are aware of the many obstacles Aliko had to overcome to achieve this win. If the private sector must step forward to invest, create jobs, and drive growth, the government must roll out more supportive regulations and deliver them efficiently. The worst damage done by the APC-led government since 2015 is to unleash difficult-to-implement-and-sustain ‘reform’ initiatives that erode private sector confidence in our economy and drive investors away from our shores.

There are a few major milestones ahead as Nigeria journeys toward attaining energy self-sufficiency. I hope Aliko will continue to lend his unwavering support on this journey.”

The Federal Government has approved a 50 per cent increase in the feeding allowance for inmates in Nigeria, effective from August 2024. This measure aims to address rising food costs and improve inmate welfare.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the increase during an interview with PUNCH Online on Thursday.

He described it as the “first phase” of a broader review intended to enhance living conditions for inmates.

“The inmate feeding allowance has been increased by 50 per cent, effective from August 2024. This is just the first phase,” Umar said.

He added that further reviews would follow, particularly due to the soaring cost of food.

“The FG will also consider additional reviews. This is just the first phase. Normally, there is a period when inmate feeding allowances are reviewed. Following a presentation during the budget process, the FG deemed it necessary to adjust the allowance due to the rising cost of food. Further adjustments are expected,” Umar explained.

For the 2024 budget year, the NCoS has been allocated over N24.4 billion for catering materials and foodstuffs.

The need for an increase in the feeding allowance has been a public concern, especially after it was revealed in December 2023 by the Controller General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, that N750 was allocated per day for each prisoner, while N800 was spent daily on feeding each of the 900 dogs in the service.

Inmate welfare issues gained further attention recently after a viral video from the Afokang Custodial Centre in Calabar, Cross River State, showed inmates being served poorly cooked meals.

This sparked public outrage and led to an investigation ordered by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, into the conditions at the facility.

The NCoS confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, emphasising that the incident does not reflect the overall standards of care and commitment to inmate welfare across the country.