Canadian police receive 53 vehicles, $180,300 stolen funds from EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over 53 recovered vehicles and $180,300 to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as restitution for victims of financial crimes committed by Nigerians in Canada.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede, a lawyer and chairman of the anti-graft agency, presented the recovered assets to RCMP representatives in Abuja.

Mr. Nasser Sadiou, Regional Officer, and Mr. Robert Aboumitiri, First Secretary, represented the RCMP at the Deputy High Commission of Canada in Nigeria.

Olukoyede clarified that various Nigerian car lots housed the stolen Canadian vehicles, nine of which were discovered at a customs port awaiting clearance.

According to him, 164, 000 U.S. dollars were recovered for a Canadian, Elena Bogomas, in a romance scam, while 16, 300 U.S. dollars were also recovered for another Canadian, Sandra Butler.

He said one of the fraudsters used his proceeds to buy an estate and was later arrested, prosecuted, and jailed, while the property was sold to recover the funds.

He said: “It’s common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe. The people who perpetrate these crimes do it in such a way that we discover that their activities are quite borderless and barbaric.”

According to him, they adopt diverse methods to ensure their ability to operate and move freely across different jurisdictions.

He said: “That’s why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world. People share the same objective and mandate with us.

“What the EFCC is doing today is doing on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“It is also demonstrating the fact that the President has given us the mandate to extend our hands to ensure that this particular problem is resolved, and that is exactly what we are doing here today.”

Olukoyede emphasized that the operation showcased the EFCC’s dedication to collaborative efforts with other agencies in Nigeria, promoting a united front against financial crimes.

He also highlighted that the exercise demonstrated the Nigerian government’s zero-tolerance stance on financial crimes, reaffirming its commitment to combating illicit activities.

He said: “Not only that, we are going to pursue it, because not only that, we will investigate, we will recover, we will prosecute, and we will ensure that the victim is restituted.

“We have recovered money and financial assets, and we have also recovered vehicles on behalf of the victims in Canada. As a matter of fact, the 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims.

“In one instance, we had 164,000 U.S. dollars given to a Canadian victim known as Elena Bogomas. Also, we have here, which we will present to you today, another sum of 16,300 U.S. dollars stolen from another victim known as Sandra Butler.”

Sadiou, in his remarks after the signing of documents for the transfer of the recovered assets, thanked the Government of Nigeria and the EFCC in the fight against corruption.

He said: “I am really happy to be here. I feel like being home. I am very happy with the recovery, and we appreciate the EFCC for the job they have done.

“It is a testimony of your professionalism and commitment in the combat against financial crimes.

EFCC is one of the key partners in the fight against financial crimes in the world and West Africa in particular.”

In his address, Aboumitiri praised the collaborative efforts between the Canadian government and the Federal Government of Nigeria, acknowledging the productive outcomes of their partnership.

He noted that the partnership has been bearing fruit, with successful results evident in their joint endeavours.