Magu hunts for illicit funds, properties in ECOWAS States
…As unscrupulous persons move illicit funds for elections
The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has taken the fight against corruption to Ghana where he is currently hunting for Nigerian elites’ illicit properties and funds.
Sources privy to the onslaught hinted that EFCC massive hunt for properties and illicit funds in Ghana followed credible and reliable intelligent that some Nigerian elites who siphoned funds to acquire some choice properties in protected areas in Ghana are surreptitiously and illegally funding the Nigerian elections and are plotting to use such fund for vote buying.
Illicit funds movement and money laundering activities by some unscrupulous persons have been of great concern to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Commission has been targeting safe havens all over the world through collaboration with law enforcement agencies in those countries.
The Commission is making tremendous progress in recoveries of funds and properties from such territories and within Nigeria.
It was further gathered that the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, is presently visiting Ghana, leading a team of crack detectives to identify properties and trace illicit funds owned by some Nigerian elite and fraudsters operating there.
According to our Ghanaian sources, some politically exposed persons and cybercrime fraudsters in concert with some Ghanaians and financial institutions buy choice properties running into millions of dollars in protected neighbourhoods in Accra.
There is also information that crude oil thieves who smuggle products from Nigeria, using Ghana as their base and thereafter laundering their proceeds through buying properties or moving the monies to Nigeria.
The EFCC acting chairman is reported be working in collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and other relevant law enforcement agencies in Ghana. The Commission is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with these agencies and the Ghana Police Service to tackle this menace, according to reports. Our sources further confirmed that there “is high rate of movement of these funds by road transportation through the porous land borders to avoid the prying eyes of security personnel at the airports. “Magu’s worries are hinged on the fears of these illicit funds movement, if not checked, being used to undermine national security. There are suspicions that these funds could be used to support Boko Haram terrorists as in the recent dare-devil audacity with which the group has been challenging the National Army. “As the elections draw near, these funds could come handy in buying votes, arming thugs and causing confusion in the entire country. “ When contacted, the Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to EFCC Chairman, Mr. Tony Amokeodo, confirmed the development. He, however, declined to give further details on the grounds of the sensitive nature of the matter. Andrew Orolua, Abuja
The EFCC acting chairman is reported be working in collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and other relevant law enforcement agencies in Ghana. The Commission is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with these agencies and the Ghana Police Service to tackle this menace, according to reports. Our sources further confirmed that there “is high rate of movement of these funds by road transportation through the porous land borders to avoid the prying eyes of security personnel at the airports. “Magu’s worries are hinged on the fears of these illicit funds movement, if not checked, being used to undermine national security. There are suspicions that these funds could be used to support Boko Haram terrorists as in the recent dare-devil audacity with which the group has been challenging the National Army. “As the elections draw near, these funds could come handy in buying votes, arming thugs and causing confusion in the entire country. “ When contacted, the Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to EFCC Chairman, Mr. Tony Amokeodo, confirmed the development. He, however, declined to give further details on the grounds of the sensitive nature of the matter. Andrew Orolua, Abuja
