By Tata Mbunwe
Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday returned $180,300 and 53 vehicles stolen from Canadian citizens as part of an ongoing crackdown on cybercrime.
The handover ceremony took place at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede stated that $164,000 was recovered for a Canadian national, Elena Bogoma, and $16,300 for another victim, Sandra Butler.
The 53 vehicles were tracked and recovered from local garages across Nigeria, according to local media.
The assets were acquired through online scams, a growing issue fueled by the rise of the Internet.
“These assets are being returned on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to victims in Canada,” Olukoyede said, noting that the operation was conducted by the EFCC’s Lagos Division.
He highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling financial crimes, particularly with partners like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Olukoyede said cybercrime is a borderless threat, requiring joint efforts between nations to effectively counter it.
He reiterated the Nigerian government’s commitment to fighting financial crimes both domestically and globally.
Canadian official Robert Aboumitri, First Secretary in the Office of the Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, praised the collaboration between Nigeria and Canada in combating cybercrime.
“Criminals are not constrained by jurisdictions, and neither should law enforcement be,” he said.
“Our partnership with the EFCC has been one of our most fruitful collaborations in Africa. We’ve seen real, tangible results from this cooperation, and today’s handover is a clear example of that success,” Aboumitri added.
