The commission also said that about 80 suspects were arrested within the period, while 123 cases were under investigation.
According to PremiumTimes, the Zonal Head of the Commission, Akaninyene Ezinma, made this known on Thursday at a press conference held at commission’s Iyanganku headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
Mr. Ezinma said that within the period, the commission received over 200 petitions out of which 123 were being investigated.
“The Ibadan Zonal Office has indeed given the activities of the commission a leap in the South-West of the country,” he said.
“It is my pleasure to inform you that considerable progress has been made by the commission in the areas of investigations, recoveries, sensitization and public advocacy against corruption across the zone.”
Mr. Ezinma said the zone was not limited to treating official corruption cases, but was at advanced stages in the investigation of some advance fee fraud cases and other forms of infractions.
“Between February and September, we received over 200 petitions out of which 123 are under investigations. 80 suspects were arrested during the course of investigation. Out of these cases, eight are already before the courts at various stages of trial,” Mr. Ezinma said.
“We have also, within the same period seized six vehicles from suspected fraudsters and recovered N57, 316,607.15.
“For us, these figures indicate a steady progression in our activities and a commitment to the commission’s mandate.”
He also acknowledged and commended the judiciary for its support in expeditiously handling corruption cases in court, assuring that before the end of the year, the Ibadan zone would have a number of convictions in her kitty.
Mr. Ezinma further said the creation of the zonal office had brought the commission closer to the people, and called on the public to avail the commission with useful information, assuring that whistleblowers would be adequately protected.
“For us to succeed we need information. I want to appeal to members of the public to avail us with information, such shall be treated with utmost confidentiality,” he said.
“We would protect whistleblowers. We are also calling for media support.”
The EFCC spokesperson said the fight against corruption and financial crimes required combined efforts of all.
“Now that the commission is within reach of the grassroots, I enjoin members of the public, particularly the media, to prop up this effort by reporting cases of corruption to EFCC,” he said.
He said petitions and complaints could be forwarded to the commission e-mail info@efccnigeria.org, as well as via twitter handle@officialefcc or by way of leaving a comment on its facebook page, officialefcc/facebook.com
Ezinma also said activities of the commission could be watched on http:/www.youtube.com and its office could be reached through the telephone lines, 08113883322 and 09030000520.
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