AGF Sets the Record Straight: EFCC and ICPC Recovered $105.9 Million, Not $967.5 Billion
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has cleared up confusion surrounding the amount recovered by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies in 2024. Contrary to some media reports claiming a staggering $967.5 billion, Fagbemi confirmed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) actually recovered a combined total of $105.9 million.
In a statement personally signed by the AGF, he described the inflated figures as inaccurate and misleading. He detailed that in 2024 alone, the EFCC reclaimed over 248 billion naira, $105 million, and 753 duplexes through its asset recovery efforts. Meanwhile, the ICPC successfully recovered 29.685 billion naira in cash and $966,900 in assets.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has also stepped up its asset seizures related to drug crimes to prevent illicit funds from fueling further illegal activities.
On the international front, Fagbemi highlighted ongoing collaborations with countries such as the US, UK, Bailiwick of Jersey, Ireland, and Switzerland. Since 2017, these partnerships have facilitated the recovery and repatriation of $763.73 million and 6.47 million naira. Of this, $102.88 million and 2.06 million naira were recovered between 2024 and the present.
The AGF emphasized that the current administration under President Tinubu is dedicated to transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law in managing recovered assets.
He noted that asset recovery remains a vital weapon in the fight against corruption and economic crimes, serving both as a deterrent and a means to restore public trust in governance.
This clarification aims to set the record straight and reinforce the government’s commitment to tackling corruption head-on.