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Naira Redesign: 3 governors under EFCC watch for Stashed Cash

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2022

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa

Three serving state governors are being monitored over their moves to launder stashed billions of naira through table payment of salaries to workers, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, told Daily Trust in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

He said raid on Bureau De Change operators will be sustained, urging Nigerians to support the system, for the benefit of all.

Daily Trust reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on October 26 announced that the country’s currency would be redesigned to address many issues that have negative effects on the economy.

While the re-designed notes would be released on December 15, Nigerians have up to January 31, 2023, to deposit the old notes in banks. However, the mad rush by top politicians, traders, investors and other members of the public to cut corners and convert stashed funds into dollars, property and others, has created tension in the economy.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, had said the move was to counter-terrorism financing and hoarding of banknotes by members of the public. The apex bank is to redesign the N200, N500 and N1, 000 notes.

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Checks by this paper showed that a dollar was selling at N882 in Abuja on the black market yesterday, despite several raids by the operatives of the EFCC in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.

Sources told this paper that BDC operators are mopping up dollars from states as the scarcity of the currency bites harder.

In an exclusive interview with this paper yesterday, the EFFCC chairman disclosed that some governors are all out devising means to launder money they stashed in houses. He said so far, they are closely monitoring three of them.

Bawa, who refused to disclose the identity of the three governors, however, said two of them are from the North, while the 3rd one is from the southern part of the country.

He said intelligence at the disposal of the commission, showed that the three governors have concluded plans to inject the money into the system through table payment of their state workers’ salaries.

“Let me tell you something, the Intel that I have yesterday and I would want you to take this thing very seriously. Already, some state governors that have some of this cash stashed in various houses and the rest are now trying to pay salaries in cash in their state,” he said. Asked whether the commission would summon the governors, the EFCC chair said they are closely monitoring them.

He added that “I don’t know how they want to achieve that but we have to stop them from doing that. Well, we are working, they have not paid the salaries in cash yet but it is a very serious thing”, saying the move is against section 2 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

“The law is very clear regarding cash transactions. Anybody that is to consummate any cash transaction as an individual, if it is not through a financial institution must not be above N5million and if it is above that it is criminal for you to engage in such transaction. And for corporate entities it is N10million.

“Yes, I agree the salaries are not up to that but why are you all of a sudden, and all along you have been paying people salaries through their bank accounts and now you want to pay them in cash, what are you trying to do? They will come under a lot of guises, they are trying to do verification of officers, that is what we have gotten,” he said.

Disposing of stashed funds through property

The EFCC boss also confirmed the mad rush by some people to dispose of their stashed funds by buying property.

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“We are aware of that. Even if you dispose of your property and you receive cash, for that cash to be of value to you after January 31, 2023, you have to take it to the bank; so what happened, are you coming to the bank with those millions? That is why we are working with the bankers and if you have this information let us know about it,” he said.

Raids of BDCs to continue

He said the raids of BDC operators would continue. This he said, is very important to protect the system against the laundering of stashed funds.

“They (BDCs) are very important in the sense that a lot of people that have this naira cash, will want to convert them to USD or other foreign currencies, that is why they are very important.

“And based on the known gullibility of these people (BDCs), they are willing to accept this cash from the owners of these monies and they are willing to depart with the foreign currencies that they have and so that is why they are very important and very critical to us in this project that we said to ourselves that we are going to do,” he said. When Bawa’s attention was drawn to the fact that the dollar was rising despite the EFCC raids, he said it is a function of demand and supply.

“The truth of the matter here is just a simple function of demand and supply, people are rushing this commodity not that they are going to use it for any meaningful business engagement but they are just rushing for it, just a store of value, that is what is happening.

“And what they say in economics is the higher the demand, the higher the price; so people are just seeing USD or other hard currencies just the way that they are seeing gold, to get it exchanged and store their value,” he said.

Why I met chief compliance officers of banks

On why he met chief compliance officers of banks in Lagos recently, he said the parley was part of efforts to properly monitor the system and to seek their collaboration in respect of the likelihood of people bringing in their illegitimate funds back to the system.

“We knew a lot of people are hoarding these funds, it is with them and they will always find a way of trying to bring it back to the system.

“So, irrespective of what they use their cash for, whether they exchange it for dollars, whether they use it to purchase houses for those that are willing to accept cash, it has to eventually come back to the financial institution. So, irrespective of what you do, the banks are very important and critical in the sense that they are the end recipients of this cash.

“The owner of BDC must deposit the money he exchanged for the currency he did, the owner of real estate must also do the same and all of that. So, we sat down, we deliberated and we agreed on what to do. Everybody is happy about it,” he said.

No need for panic

He, however, urged Nigerians to be calm, saying “this (naira redesign) is just a routine thing that ordinarily CBN ought to have done after every eight years, the monies are going to be taken.

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“All that the government is saying is come and deposit the money at no cost to you; that is just what is happening, nothing more than that. “How can you have an economy where you have 85 per cent of your currency out there when you are calling for a cashless society when we have a lot of means by which people can consummate their transactions? What are you hiding? These days, people hardly go to the banks, you can transfer your money here using your app, and you can transfer your money through ATM, POS, and all of that, so why keep the money? Why are you scared of going to the bank to say that you want to deposit your money? He queried.

Daily Trust reports that in the last few days, videos of stashed naira denominations being brought out are common on social media.

Also, BDC operators in Abuja, Kano and Lagos said they have run out of US dollars as a result of increased demand.

“We don’t have the dollars anymore even though the buyers are increasing in number. Some of them are willing to buy it at N900/1$,” one of the BDC operators at Zone 4, in Abuja, said.

Asked if they were being harassed by EFCC operators, he said, “Not really, of course, there was this fear when they first came but they later explained to us that they needed our support to track unpatriotic Nigerians who want to launder proceeds of corruption.”

Related Topics:EFCC Featured governors Naira redesign

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EFCC secures forfeiture of over $500m in cash, assets — Olukoyede

Published

30 minutes ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

EFCC secures forfeiture of over $500m in cash, assets — Olukoyede

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the forfeiture of cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Federal Government over the past three years, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has disclosed.

Olukoyede made the disclosure on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, while speaking at the 43rd International Symposium on Economic Crime in Cambridge, United Kingdom, where he highlighted Nigeria’s growing use of asset recovery and non-conviction-based forfeiture in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

“Within three years of my assumption of office, we’ve been able to forfeit both cash and assets worth over half a billion dollars to the government,” Olukoyede said.

The EFCC chairman explained that Nigeria’s legal framework enables law enforcement agencies to pursue the forfeiture of suspected proceeds of crime without necessarily waiting for a criminal conviction.

According to him, the process can begin when the commission approaches a High Court with reasonable suspicion that particular cash or assets represent proceeds of crime.

Olukoyede said the success of the EFCC’s asset recovery drive has been supported by the ability of investigators to trace suspected illicit assets, cooperation from the judiciary and access to credible intelligence.

He cited the recent forfeiture of an aircraft allegedly linked to a $30 million bribery case involving an individual connected to the monitoring of a Nigerian power project.

According to the EFCC chairman, the aircraft was forfeited about three months ago and has since been added to the Presidential Air Fleet.

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Olukoyede also highlighted the forfeiture of a property comprising approximately 753 housing units linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.

He said criminal proceedings involving the former CBN governor were pending before three courts while discussing the case.

The EFCC chairman further disclosed that an investigation involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, led the commission to trace 57 properties allegedly linked to him.

Of the 57 properties, Olukoyede said 48 had been forfeited following the investigation, which he said began last year after the commission developed what it considered reasonable suspicion of criminal abuse of office.

The EFCC has also indicated that it intends to challenge a court decision concerning nine other properties allegedly linked to Malami.

Another case cited by Olukoyede involved a private university allegedly linked to a director in the Federal Ministry of Health. He said the official voluntarily surrendered the property following the EFCC’s investigation.

Olukoyede said these cases demonstrated the importance of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture in preventing suspected proceeds of crime from remaining in the hands of individuals while related legal proceedings continue.

He attributed the commission’s ability to secure forfeiture orders to three key factors: stronger investigative capacity, cooperation from the judiciary and credible intelligence.

The EFCC chairman also called for increased international cooperation to help Nigeria trace and recover assets allegedly taken abroad as proceeds of corruption and other financial crimes.

He urged individuals with credible information about Nigerian assets allegedly hidden or transferred to foreign jurisdictions to provide intelligence to the commission.

Olukoyede said the EFCC had introduced incentives for whistleblowers whose information leads to successful asset recovery.

According to him, individuals whose information results in the recovery of Nigerian assets could receive between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent of the recovered assets, subject to the applicable conditions.

“If any of you is privy to where Nigerian assets are stolen or taken to anywhere in the world, we have an incentive for you. Between 2.5 and 5 percent is going to go back to you upon recovery,” he said.

He stressed that stronger whistleblower protection, reliable intelligence, effective investigations and international collaboration were essential to Nigeria’s efforts to combat economic and financial crimes.

The EFCC chairman’s disclosure comes as Nigerian authorities continue to intensify efforts to trace, recover and secure the forfeiture of assets allegedly acquired through corruption and other financial crimes.

The commission has increasingly focused on following the financial trail behind suspected crimes, with asset recovery and forfeiture becoming a major component of its enforcement strategy.

However, allegations concerning individuals and properties mentioned in ongoing investigations remain subject to the judicial process, and affected persons are presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent court.

EFCC secures forfeiture of over $500m in cash, assets — Olukoyede

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Several Bandits Feared Killed as Security Forces Repel Attack in Sokoto

Published

33 minutes ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Several Bandits Feared Killed as Security Forces Repel Attack in Sokoto

Military troops and police successfully defended Sifawa town in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday, repelling an attempted attack by armed bandits. Several assailants are feared dead following a prolonged gun battle that lasted hours, while two soldiers sustained injuries and were evacuated for treatment. The attack, which occurred around 10:00 am, saw heavily armed bandits storming the community from Horo village in neighbouring Shagari Local Government Area. The assailants reportedly attempted to overrun the military barracks in Sifawa, triggering a fierce response from stationed soldiers and police personnel.

According to a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the confrontation lasted for several hours before security forces succeeded in forcing the attackers to retreat. During the intense exchange, two soldiers were injured and immediately evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment. The resident further stated that several of the bandits were believed to have been killed during the encounter, while others managed to flee through the surrounding millet farms.

The President of the Sifawa Development Forum, Dr Abubakar Boyi, who confirmed the attack, suggested that the assailants may have been drawn by large herds of livestock brought into the town by villagers displaced by banditry in Shagari. Boyi explained that there was a significant concentration of livestock in Sifawa, which may have attracted the attackers. However, a security source countered this claim, insisting that the military barracks was the primary target. The source revealed that the bandits wanted to overrun the barracks but were overpowered, and confirmed that two soldiers were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

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Following the ground engagement, military aircraft were deployed to the surrounding bushes where the fleeing bandits were believed to have taken cover. The security source added that air strikes were currently ongoing in the bushes where the bandits fled, and expressed confidence that several of them had been killed. The source further indicated that a mop-up operation would be conducted after the air strikes were completed. The development has heightened anxiety among residents and farming communities around Sifawa, prompting public announcements directing farmers whose millet farms are located along the frontline to immediately harvest their crops and vacate areas considered vulnerable to the ongoing military engagement.

The clash significantly disrupted movement along the Sifawa-Birnin Kebbi road, leaving motorists stranded for hours as security personnel responded to the attack. A motorist, Jamilu, described the harrowing experience, recounting how travellers were stranded at Yabo Junction for hours as the road leading to Kebbi was blocked. He noted that the sounds of heavy gunfire created widespread fear, forcing many to abandon their original route and seek alternative paths.

Sifawa holds strategic importance, being the hometown of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.), and the Sokoto State Secretary to the Government, Bello Sifawa. The community, located approximately 20 kilometres from Sokoto metropolis, has remained strategically significant in the security architecture of the area due to its proximity to farming settlements vulnerable to bandit attacks. As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to officially confirm the number of casualties among the bandits or security personnel. However, the Sokoto State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the incident and stated that combat-ready personnel had been mobilised to support the military and strengthen security in Sokoto metropolis and its environs. The situation remains fluid, with security forces maintaining active operations to prevent criminal elements from advancing into vulnerable communities.

Several Bandits Feared Killed as Security Forces Repel Attack in Sokoto

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Mother, teacher allegedly stage son’s kidnapping, demand N15m ransom from father

Published

46 minutes ago

August 26, 2026

Trends Admin

Mother, teacher allegedly stage son’s kidnapping, demand N15m ransom from father

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 34-year-old mother, her two-year-old son’s lesson teacher and another alleged accomplice over a purported staged kidnapping in Jos, Plateau State, involving a N15 million ransom demand.

The suspects were identified as Nansik Wuyep Sule, Catherine Davou and Luka Emmanuel Butdam. They were paraded on Wednesday at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headquarters in Abuja, where the police gave details of the investigation into the alleged abduction.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly orchestrated the disappearance of two-year-old Rito Jesse Daviu and created the impression that the child had been kidnapped by unknown persons.

The toddler was reported missing on July 19, 2026, around Behind Bishop’s House in Sabon Barki, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Following the report, police operatives deployed human and technical intelligence to determine what happened to the child and identify those responsible.

The investigation reportedly yielded a breakthrough on July 23 when operatives from the Mine Special Duty unit in Jos, led by ASP Sarauta Mohammed, arrested Sule.

Police said information obtained during the investigation led detectives to the other suspects and helped uncover the alleged circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance.

Speaking during the briefing, DCP Adamu Muazu said Davou allegedly became aware of Sule’s financial difficulties and suggested kidnapping as a way of raising money.

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Muazu said the initial plan allegedly involved kidnapping Sule. However, Davou reportedly proposed abducting her two-year-old son instead, believing the child’s father would be more likely to pay a substantial ransom for his safe return.

The police alleged that Davou subsequently went to the child’s paternal grandmother’s residence, where she used balloons to lure the toddler before taking him away.

The child was allegedly moved to a location around Behind Grandsreal in the Zawan District of Jos South, where he was kept while the suspects allegedly sustained the impression that he had been abducted.

The suspects subsequently demanded N15 million from the family for the child’s release and allegedly contacted his grandmother, pressuring her to persuade her son to pay the ransom.

Butdam was also allegedly involved in communicating with the grandmother through a hidden telephone number, according to the police.

Investigators said the use of the concealed number was allegedly intended to prevent the suspects from being identified and to maintain the appearance of a genuine kidnapping.

The suspects later allegedly changed their communication method and obtained another SIM card in an attempt to frustrate efforts by investigators to trace them.

Police detectives, however, continued analysing the communications while gathering intelligence around the case.

The grandmother reportedly became suspicious after receiving a voicemail in which the voice allegedly sounded unusual. Her concerns subsequently contributed to the investigation into the authenticity of the kidnapping.

According to the police, investigators eventually traced the suspects’ communications, established links between them and located the child.

The two-year-old was rescued from the location where he had allegedly been held and taken to a hospital for medical attention.

He was subsequently handed over to his biological father.

The police described the operation as an intelligence-led investigation, combining human intelligence with technical methods to establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance and locate him safely.

The three suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue into the alleged kidnapping, conspiracy and ransom demand.

Investigators are expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged scheme and determine the individual roles played by the suspects.

The case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating reported kidnappings, particularly where investigators must establish whether an alleged abduction was carried out by external criminals or staged by individuals known to the victim.

The police allegations against the suspects have not been established in court. They remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.