Benue: EFCC secures 107 convictions

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Makurdi zonal command has secured 107 convictions from 2019 till date.

This was disclosed by the commission’s official, Ramiah Ikhanaede, during a presentation on the “Challenges of Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes” at a training for journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Ikhanaede said the commission in 2022 secured the conviction of 3,785 cases across the country, describing it as the highest since its establishment.

He said the Makurdi zonal office secured the conviction of 16 criminals, nine in 2020, 39 in 2022 and over 43 in 2023 for varying degrees of crimes bringing the total number to 107.

He enumerated the challenges faced by the commission to include economic and statutory among others.

In her presentation on “Trends Peculiarities and Challenges of Cybercrimes Enforcement in Nigeria”, Philip Fitswemila said 90 percent to 95 percent of the 107 convictions in Benue State were cybercrimes related.

Another resource person, Dele Oyewale, in his presentation titled: “Investigative Journalism and Nigeria’s Fight Against Money Laundering” lamented the dearth of investigative journalism and attributed it to funding and media ownership among others.

Earlier, EFCC acting chairman Abdulkarim Chukkol, said the training was to enable journalists to upgrade their skills in order to discharge their duties as financial crime reporters more efficiently, adding that the workshop is the ninth in the series by the commission.

Represented by the zonal commander of EFCC Makurdi zonal office, Friday Ebelo, the EFCC boss described the media as one of the most critical allies of the commission, saying “I want to acknowledge the fact that what the EFCC is today is largely due to the support and the critical views of the media. Our partnership has been progressive and is still evolving.”