According to a statement released on Saturday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the handover took place in Lagos State on Friday.
“We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today,” the Acting Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas, said, stressing that the Nigerian anti-graft agency is willing and always ready to do more.
At the event, FBI’s Legal Attaché Charles Smith commended the EFCC for the move.
“The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business email Compromise, BEC,” he said.
“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.
“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so. We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC,” Smith added.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, issued a ruling on August 15, 2023, directing that the funds retrieved from Olanrewaju, convicted of identity theft and impersonation and sentenced to two years in prison, be returned to the victim in the United States.
