We Have Recovered $153m, 80 Houses From Deizani – EFCC

• … Bawa said he would be ready to leave the job if anyone tried to make him do what was illegal

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has revealed that the commission has recovered $153 million and properties valued at $80m from former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has been living outside Nigeria since leaving office.

This was contained in the April edition of the EFCC magazine, EFCC Alert.

The EFCC boss, however, was quick to add that trying the former minister for her financial crimes was still far from reality, given the fact that she was out of Nigeria’s jurisdiction, acknowledging the challenges associated with bringing her home to face justice.

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“There are several cases surrounding Diezani’s case. I was part of that investigation, and we have done quite a lot. In one of the cases, we recovered $153 million; we have secured the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria valued at about $80 million. We have done quite a bit on that.

“The other cases as it relates to the $115 million INEC bribery is also ongoing across the federation. We are looking forward to the time we will, maybe, have her in the country, and, of course, review things and see what will happen going forward. The case has certainly not been abandoned,” Bawa said.

While responding to a question as to how he would be dealing with powerful government officials in the discharge of his duties, Bawa said he would be ready to leave the job if anyone tried to make him do what was illegal.

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“I am not going to pay allegiance to individuals in the government,” he added.

He added that though he was young, he had paid the price on the job, having been among the pioneer staff of EFCC, rising through the ranks to reach the top.