Of this number, the commission said a total of 213 cases were returned on the grounds that they were out of the purview of the EFCC.
The agency also said it had recovered a total sum of N211,134,927.26; $136,289; €2000 and £765 within the period under review.
The disclosure was made on Monday by the Ibadan Zonal Head of the EFCC, Mr Friday Ebelo, while addressing the media at the 2019 International Anti-corruption Day with the theme, ‘Zero tolerance to corruption.’
The press conference, which preceded an anti-corruption walk around major areas in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was attended by top officials of the anti-graft agency.
Also in attendance at the walk was Governor Seyi Makinde.
Ebelo said, “Corruption remains the most potent threat to human existence. It is at the root of every tragedy that ever befell mankind. It has also been identified as the ultimate potential impediment to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed for full actualisation by the year 2030.
Read Also:
“For the Ibadan zone, the last one year witnessed a beehive of activities with unprecedented successes as the zone contributes its modest quota to the global fight against corruption.”
He added, “In the last one year, particularly from January 2019 till date, the zone received 691 petitions. 213 of these were returned unapproved as issues raised therein did not fall under the purview of our mandate.
“In the course of investigations, the zone arrested 878 persons. Out of the 268 prosecuted, 171 have been convicted. Our investigations also led to temporary freezing of 1,044 bank accounts, while 56 automobiles and 14 houses were impounded. We equally have several laptops, android phones and many other electronic devices confiscated in compliance with court orders.
“In the period under review, the zone also recovered on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, huge sums of money in both local and foreign currencies. These include a total of N211,134,927.26. For the foreign currencies, we had $136,289; €2000 and £765.
“Corruption poses an existential threat to our survival as individuals and as a nation. We must personalise the fight against the monster if we truly desire a corruption-free Nigeria. We can’t sit on the fence and expect success in this campaign. We must all get involved. It is a winnable war if only we show doggedness and commitment.”
Makinde, who led other top government officials to the rally, said his administration would work hard to nip corruption in the bud in the state.
He said “This is a walk against corruption. You know what corruption does to the body polity? Do you want us to fix your roads well?”
