By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdularasheed Bawa, has specified the minister involved in the laundering of about $37 million into real estate to which he referred in his earlier statement.
Mr. Bawa, while addressing journalists during the weekly ministerial chat on Thursday at the State House in Abuja, disclosed that he simply made reference to an old case involving a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Madueke.
The anti-graft agency boss also said that he is not perturbed over the threats to his life and that he is determined to prosecute the many pending cases under trial.
He gave an insight into ongoing prosecutions, challenges, and increasing cases of financial crimes since his assumption into office 100 days ago.
Bawa further disclosed that since his first 100 days in office, the agency has been working on a number of proactive strategies including a special control unit against money laundering, established particularly to address non-designated financial institutions including car dealers, real estate, jewellery dealers, among others.
The EFCC boss said that he is confident that when the unit is fully established, corruption will significantly decline in the country.
He then added that the agency is equally working towards the development of a biometric ownership database to address money laundering.
According to him, most proceeds of crime are laundered through real estate and have become a huge challenge. He gives examples of property acquired especially in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt where billions of naira are laundered through this means.
Bawa however, declined to disclose actual perpetrators or the properties involved, but revealed that since his assumption, a number of recoveries have been made including N6billion, $161million, £13,000 pounds, €1,730 among others.
Internet fraudsters numbering 1,502 have also been apprehended between January to June 2021, adding that efforts are underway to prosecute about 800 of them in court.
