EFCC Recovers $180,300, 53 Cars from Canadian Scam Victims

EFCC Recovers $180,300, 53 Cars from Scammers

“Most countries are collaborating with us in the fight against financial crimes...”

The EFCC returns $180,300 and 53 vehicles to Canadian authorities, recovered from Nigerians who defrauded Canadian citizens, demonstrating the commission's commitment to fighting financial crimes.

The EFCC on Friday handed over $180,300 and 53 vehicles to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, recovered from Nigerians who had fraudulently taken them from Canadian citizens.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, stated at the signing ceremony that the Canadians were victims of cybercrimes, and the recovery and return of the assets demonstrated the commission's commitment to fighting financial crimes.

Olukoyede emphasized the importance of international collaboration in tackling financial and other forms of crime, highlighting the need for countries to work together to combat these illicit activities.

  

He said, “This is an occasion we are using to demonstrate our commitment to fighting financial crimes and to also collaborate with other countries and agencies around the world. It's common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe.

“It has become a global problem. The people who perpetrate these crimes do so in a way that shows their activities are borderless and barbaric. They employ various means to ensure they move across jurisdictions. That's why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world.

“Most countries are collaborating with us in the fight against financial crimes. What you are witnessing today is a demonstration of that reinforced commitment. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been collaborating with us. This collaboration has resulted in many recoveries and the impact of joint operations.”

Olukoyede stated that although the operations took several years, they led to substantial recoveries.

He said, “We are here today to witness the handover of assets recovered on behalf of Canadian victims of cybercrime. The operations have taken a couple of years and have resulted in a substantial recovery.”

Olukoyede asserted that Nigeria does not condone or tolerate financial and other crimes, and should not be seen as a haven for criminal activities.

He said, “It is important for us to let our colleagues and friends from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police know that as an agency, the EFCC, and as a country, Nigeria is always ready to fight financial crimes. Nigeria should not necessarily be seen as a hub of financial crimes. It is a transit town, as are Canada and most countries across the world because people move from one jurisdiction to another. This is also a demonstration that the Nigerian government will never tolerate any act of financial crime.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman assured victims of financial crimes that the commission would investigate, prosecute, and recover their stolen assets.

He said, “The Nigerian government does not tolerate financial crimes. Not only that, we will pursue, investigate, recover, prosecute, and ensure that victims are restituted. That is what we are doing today.”

Olukoyede announced that the commission had recovered $164,000 from Bogomas Elena and $16,300 from Sandra Butler, who were both defrauded.

He said, “In total, 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims. In one instance, $164,000 was taken from Elena, and $16,300 was also recovered. These will be handed over to the Canadian police to return to the victims.”

The recovery process, Wetkas explained, was initiated in 2012 when the Royal Canadian Mounted Police contacted the EFCC about stolen vehicles that had gone missing during transportation from Canada.

“It was a joint operation between us and Canadian police officers. This collaboration led to the recovery of the 53 vehicles handed over today. Among them, nine were tracked from a vessel transporting them abroad back to Nigeria. That is the brief story behind the operation.”

Wetkas stated that Bogomas Elena's case involved a romance scam that was reported to the EFCC.

“Today, we are celebrating the recovery of $164,000 on behalf of Bogomas. The fraudster has been convicted, and another suspect is still on trial,” he added.

Canadian law enforcement officials commended the EFCC's commitment to combating financial crimes.

“This shows that you are one of the key partners in West Africa in the fight against crime. Thank you very much. We highly value this partnership and would like to elevate it to the highest level possible," Premier Secretary and Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, Robert Aboumitri, said on behalf of the Canadian police.

“This shows that you are one of the key partners in West Africa in the fight against crime. Thank you very much. We highly value this partnership and would like to elevate it to the highest level possible,” Premier Secretary and Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, Robert Aboumitri, said on behalf of the Canadian police.

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