The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied sharing N54 billion forfeited by some associates of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.

An online news platform (Not The Star) had reported that the N54 billion recovered from Emefiele’s associates was shared among some ministers and aides of President Bola Tinubu, in collaboration with EFCC officials.

Reacting via a statement on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the anti-graft agency described the report as false.

It noted: “No official of the Commission was, or has ever been involved in the ‘sharing’ of any proceeds of forfeited assets. The notion of ‘sharing of proceeds of forfeited assets’ is strange to the Commission.

“The sensational report which was promoted ostensibly to scandalise the agencies mentioned, betrays the author’s ignorance of the existing asset recovery and management framework.

EFCC: Why our account disappeared from X

“Both the EFCC Act, 2004 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, are unambiguous in terms of the accounts into which proceeds of forfeited assets are to be paid.

“There is no ‘platform’ for the ‘sharing of forfeited assets’; the notion itself being infantile. Otherwise, Sahara reporters would not have withheld information about when and how the sharing took place and who got what. The truth is, it simply did not happen!

“Dishing fiction to the public as news is the height of irresponsibility and EFCC will not tolerate any attempt to defame its hard-earned reputation.

“The public is enjoined to trash the lie.”

The Star