Top bankers under probe, Bobrisky case ongoing – EFCC

On Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announced that it was looking into a number of bank officials for different violations.

The committee added that it has sent President Bola Tinubu its initial report on the investigation into the case of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu.

About five bank officials are incarcerated at the nation's custodial facilities for varying lengths of time, according to the anti-graft bureau.

Wilson Uwajaren, the Director of Public Affairs, revealed this when outlining the commission's accomplishments under Ola Olukoyede.

The banking industry has not been ignored in the past year, according to Uwujaren, who did not provide the names of the bank officials who are being investigated.

"It is only for us to reflect and realise that the EFCC has never changed its focus from any sector," he stated. At least five bank executives were the subject of investigations and jail sentences between 2009 and 2011. Some of them are still being looked into.

"They're not elected officials. The EFCC has the right to investigate and prosecute bank MDs. Names cannot be mentioned until those matters are resolved.

"I don't know the outcome," Uwajaren said of Betta Edu. However, I think that we have sent the president a draft report. And I think we're still working on it.

"We indicated how many bank accounts we were keeping an eye on the last time I looked. We examined roughly 140 accounts And we know it takes time to look into and get the required information.”
Regarding the inquiry into the claims made by controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, Uwujaren stated that if the accusations against the EFCC are untrue, he may be subject to a new charge from the commission.

Controversial social critic Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, published a voicemail in which Bobrisky purportedly claimed to have paid N15 million to EFCC officers to drop money laundering allegations against him.

The EFCC established a committee to look into the incident even though it refuted the accusations.

Uwujaren gave an update, saying that in addition to bringing false accusations against the EFCC, one could face charges for providing the commission with misleading information.
According to a section of the EFCC Act, giving incorrect information might result in legal action, but in his situation, it is an allegation against the agency. I don’t want to preempt the panel investigating the matter. Once we are through with the investigation, we will definitely brief you on the outcome.”
Uwujaren reported that a total of ₦248 billion had been recovered, highlighting the commission's accomplishments under Olukoyede.

He added that Olukoyede had prosecuted three former ministers and four former governors.

According to Uwujaren, during Olukoyede's one year as EFCC Chairman, which ran from October 18, 2023, to October 18, 2024, the Commission charged four former governors with corruption: Darius Dickson Ishaku (Taraba), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Yahaya Adoza Bello (Kogi).

"The Commission has arrested two former ministers of power and is pursuing charges against them. They are Olu Agunloye and Saleh Mamman. Hadi Sirika, a former aviation minister, is the third.

Additionally, he mentioned that the EFCC, under Olukoyede's leadership, had obtained 3455 convictions across all categories of financial crimes and corruption.
According to him, the EFCC recorded $105,423,190.39, £53,133.64, €172,547.10, T1,300.00, CAD $3,400.00, ¥74,859:00 (seventy-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-nine Chinese yuan), AUS $740:00, 170:00 UAE DIRHAM, 73,000:00 KOREAN WON, and CFA 7,821,375:00 to R 50:00 during the year under Olukoyede's leadership.

According to him, almost 35 people were found guilty of abusing Naira.

"The inmates were from a variety of social backgrounds. The most well-known inmates in this category were Nollywood actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, who received six months in prison, and Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky. Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, was punished and his offences were compounded, he said.