Anti-corruption summit: Over 60 prominent Nigerians to lose cash, assets in the UK
– The recent anti-corruption summit held in the United Kingdom seems to be yielding results already
– The EFCC has made moves to start recovering assets of Nigerian politicians in the UK
– The UK was said to be in custody of over £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials
If the report by The Nation is anything to go by, over 60 prominent Nigerians may lose assets and cash laundered in the United Kingdom.
According to the report, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) is set submit a list of those convicted, under probe, fleeing suspects and those watch-listed to the relevant agencies in the UK.
President Buhari and other world leaders at the Anti-corruption summit in London
Already, the UK is said to be in custody of over £40 million stolen funds recovered from some Nigerian government officials in 2008. This is apart from about £22.5million recovered from the Island of Jersey.
Among those that will be affected ex-governors Joshua Dariye, Chimaroke Nnamani, Lucky Igbinedion, and the duo of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Abubakar Audu who are late..
Others are some former ministers either on trial or under investigation and some indicted top bankers during the 2008 financial crisis.
British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has reportedly indicated his readiness to collaborate with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on the recovery process of the cash and assets.
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A top source, who spoke on the issue said: “With the pledge of the British Prime Minister, we will just go to our shelf and reel out the list of those with suspected loot and laundered funds in the United Kingdom.
“Already, we have the dossiers of all these suspects right from the days of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the EFCC chairman.
“We can talk of about 60 on our radar, including about 13 governors, former ministers, oil subsidy suspects, indicted top bankers and some of those involved in the $15billion arms deals.
“We will recover all the stolen funds. In fact, very soon, we may start publishing the photographs of the identified assets of some of these suspects.
“In fact, the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, met with the Special Fraud Office in London on Thursday.
“We can seize these assets under the Interim Forfeiture Order in Sections 26 and 29 of the EFCC Act.
The section reads: “Any property subject to forfeiture under this Act may be seized by the commission in the following circumstances- (a) the seizure is incidental to an arrest or search; or (b) in the case of property liable to forfeiture upon process issued by the Court following an application made by the Commission in accordance with the prescribed rules.
“Whenever property is seized under any of the provisions of this Act, the Commission may-(a) place the property under seal; or (b) remove the property to a place designated by the Commission.
“Properties taken or detained under this section shall be deemed to be in custody of the Commission, subject only to an order of a Court.”
READ ALSO: “Nigeria ‘was’ corrupt, but the UK govt is a big part of world’s corruption problem”
This move is part of the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s participation in the recently held International Anti-Corruption Summit in London.
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