The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, handed over $22,000 recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Lagos.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos had, on August 15, 2023, ordered that the money recovered from Olanrewaju, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation, be restituted to his victim in the United States of America.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, revealed the development in a statement on Saturday.
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Oyewale noted that, speaking during the handover ceremony in Lagos, the acting Director, Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, Michael Wetkas, reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to combating crimes and restoring sanity to the nation.
“We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today.
“The EFCC is willing and always ready to do more,” Wetkas was quoted as saying.
The FBI Legal Attaché, Charles Smith, said, “the EFCC and the FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business Email Compromise.”
He added that “this type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.
“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so.
“We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”
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