The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it will soon auction over two hundred seized trucks under its custody.
This is even as the anti-graft agency noted that corruption is a big threat to businesses in the country.
The commission stated this during a road walk as part of activities to mark this year’s Africa’s anti-corruption day.
The EFCC during the walk in Port Harcourt on Thursday with the theme: “Common African Position on Asset Recovery”, said that collective efforts to tackling the menace of corruption will eliminate it.
The walk which was organised around Port Harcourt metropolis had representatives of other sister security agencies like the Nigeria Customs, the Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Immigration, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence and representatives of Civil Societies in Rivers state, Youth Corps Members and the media.
Speaking during the walk, the Port Harcourt zonal head of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa stated that “Corruption is a threat to genuine businesses but collective strength is stronger than corruption”
He noted that recently, EFCC arrested 244 trucks carrying illegal crude products and that soon it will be auctioned and that the proceeds will be utilized by the government.
Bawa added that over 200 cases relating to illegal oil bunkering are before the commission, stressing that the EFCC has in their custody, more than 70 vessels that are undergoing investigation and prosecution processes.
The Zonal Head stressed that the challenge facing the commission is on the issue of repatriation of illicit funds.
“The theme of this year’s event is to make sure that we have a common position for those resources to be returned back to Africa for the development of our continent. And that is why we a here to sensitize Nigerians about that process”
Bawa added “ The success story of EFCC is enormous. In the last three and a half years, EFCC has recovered over 80 billion naira for the country, and we have recovered landed assets and jewellery worth of about 40 million dollars”
He also said that EFCC is one of the prosecuting agencies that receives arrest made by the Nigeria Navy and the Nigeria Army, adding that the commission will not deter in reducing economic and financial related crimes in the country to a barest minimum.
