The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has unveiled a financial reward scheme for whistleblowers who provide credible information leading to the recovery of stolen Nigerian assets hidden overseas.
Under the initiative, informants will receive between 2.5 and 5 per cent of the value of assets successfully recovered through intelligence supplied to the anti-graft agency.
Speaking on the programme, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said public cooperation remains critical in tracing illicit wealth and proceeds of crime transferred outside Nigeria.
He said protecting and incentivising whistleblowers would encourage more people to come forward with useful information.
Olukoyede noted that the commission has recorded significant successes in asset recovery, attributing the achievements to improved investigative capacity, judicial support and access to actionable intelligence.
According to him, the agency has recovered and forfeited cash and assets worth more than $500 million to the Federal Government in the last three years. The recoveries include high-value properties, housing estates, aircraft and other assets linked to individuals under investigation for alleged corruption and abuse of office.
He explained that Nigeria’s legal framework allows authorities to seek court-approved forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of crime, enabling government to recover public resources while investigations and prosecutions continue.
The EFCC chairman said the commission remains focused on identifying, tracing and recovering stolen assets wherever they are located, describing asset recovery as a key tool in the fight against corruption and the protection of national resources.
He added that stronger collaboration between citizens, investigators and international partners would be essential to recovering more stolen assets and ensuring public funds are returned for national development.
