The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is determined to fight corruption in the country to a standstill and find all those who have been looting the nation’s treasury.
To achieve this, the federal initiated the whistle blowing policy in December 2016 which encourages people to expose fraud in the public and private sectors. The whistleblower stands to collect between 2.5 and 5% of any money recovered.
It appears the policy is working as the minister of information Lai Mohammed disclosed that the whistle-blowing policy has led to the recovery of over $180 million from various corrupt individuals.
For months, we have been hearing stories of how billions stashed in unbelievable places were found by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The discoveries have left many in shock.
READ ALSO: How EFCC recovered Huge cash in Ikoyi
NAIJ.com has gathered a list of some of the stashed money found in despicable places.
1. $9.7m (N2,986,567,680) hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna
One of the biggest news in February was the discovery of a staggering sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of £74,000 cash hidden in a building the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu. The money was hidden in a fire proof safe. All this money for one person and people cannot afford to buy a cup of garri.
The money belonging to former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu was hidden in a fire proof safe
2. N400m in Lagos plaza shop
On Friday, April 7, a large sum of N448,850,000 suspected to be laundered money was found in a shop at LEGICO shopping plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. The money was stashed in several Ghana Must Go bags in N500 and N1000 denominations, awaiting conversion into foreign currency. There is God ooo.
The money was stashed in several Ghana Must Go bags in N500 and N1000 denominations
3. N250m ($818,062) in Balogun market
Days after discovering raw cash inside a Lagos plaza, another N250million was found inside the popular Balogun Market in Lagos state. The breakdown of the money was given to include: €547,730, £21,090 and N5,648,500. The owner of the money was not revealed, but it was learnt that it belonged to a top Nigerian from the north.
The breakdown of the money was given to include: €547,730, £21,090 and N5,648,500
4. N55.8bn stashed in banks
Thanks to whistle blowing, the federal government recovered $136.7million from an account in a commercial bank. This was followed by N7billion and $15million from another person and N1billion from yet another. The monies were kept under fake account names.
READ ALSO: Court hands cash EFCC discovered in Lagos to FG
5. N49m ($160,340) found in Kaduna airport
Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intercepted the sum of N49 million in five large black 150kg colored BUHU sacks on Tuesday, March 14. It was found during a routine baggage screening. The owner of the cash is still unknown. Who knew that such huge amount would be found at the airport?
The sum of N49 million in five large black 150kg colored BUHU sacks at the Kaduna airport
6. $43.4m, £27,800 and N23.2m in Ikoyi, Lagos
Just when we thought we had seen it all, on Wednesday, April 12, EFCC operatives once again recovered huge sum of cash hidden in a residential building in the 7th Floor of a four - bedroom apartment at Osborne Towers located at 16, Osborne road Ikoyi, Lagos. The total amount was put at $43.4million, £27,800 and N23.2million. The huge sum was well hidden in three fire proof cabinets disguisedly hidden behind wooden panels of a wardrobe in two of the rooms. God save Nigeria.
EFCC operatives once again recovered huge sum of cash hidden in a residential building in Ikoyi
The anti-graft commission has provided details on the processes the recovered monies will go through before they are returned to the national treasury.
''The monies become the property of the federal government and by extension, that of Nigerians. This is where our job stops.
''The federal government in its wisdom will then utilize these monies in the best interest of Nigerians - health care, infrastructure etc, '' the EFCC said.
Watch the video of the former NNPC boss, Andrew Yakubu arraigned by the EFCC in court.
