The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday handed over a total of $225,895 and ₦62.79 million recovered from fraud cases to victims from the United States and South Africa.
The restitution ceremony, held on March 13, 2026, was presided over by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, and attended by representatives of the affected countries. Among them were the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mike Fukuda, and the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele.
Speaking during the event, Hammajoda described corruption as a global challenge that requires collective international action to address.
“Corruption is like a cancer that eats into every fabric of our lives. It is cross-border in nature; therefore, we must join hands collectively to defeat it,” he said.
He reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to ensuring that recovered assets are returned to their rightful owners, whether individuals, organisations, governments or foreign victims.
“From our end at the EFCC, we are doing our best. Whatever we recover, we return to the victims. We also expect the same gesture from our sister agencies and collaborators across the world,” he added.
Hammajoda further called on international partners across the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa to continue supporting asset recovery efforts through timely cooperation.
During the ceremony, Fukuda received $7,440 on behalf of American victims of fraud, including Drago Boskovic, Anh Ngoc Nguyen, and Holly Ngo, among others. In addition, $175,895 and ₦62,790,000 were handed over in restitution linked to related fraud cases involving American victims.
Similarly, Mminele, alongside the victim’s lawyer Elisha Sunday, received $50,000 on behalf of Ennis-Flint Africa Limited, a South African company affected by fraud.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mminele expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering and restituting stolen funds.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the good work the EFCC has been doing. South Africa has witnessed that what the Commission is doing is real, as the victim company has seen the results of the work done,” she said.
She added that the South African High Commission values its longstanding relationship with the EFCC and looks forward to continued collaboration.
Also speaking, the lawyer to the South African victim company, Sunday, commended the Commission’s dedication in tackling economic and financial crimes.
“The best thing that ever happened to this country is the EFCC because of the good work it is doing. Their efforts are helping to restore confidence that people can still do business with Nigerians,” he said.
Fukuda, in his remarks, praised the EFCC’s commitment to justice and restitution for fraud victims.
“I have seen the effort the EFCC has made in securing restitution for victims, and it is inspiring to me and my organisation,” he said. “Your organisation is truly a world-class agency, and we are honoured to collaborate with you.”
