The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it had returned allegedly hidden N19, 333,333,333.36 Kogi salary bail-out cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It said the CBN had acknowledged the receipt of the sum in the Kogi State Salary Bail-out account domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc.
It said the recovery and the deposit of the cash with CBN have cleared all doubts on the operation of the commission on the hidden cash.
A fact-sheet released by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren insisted that there was such an account, although the Kogi State Government has persistently denied its existence.
The commission said: “This effectively puts to rest the campaign of misinformation and unconscionable denials by the Kogi State Government that no fund was recovered from its bail out account.
“The apex bank in a letter referenced, DFD/DIR/CON/EXT/01/099 and dated 9th November, 2021 informed the Executive Chairman, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa that it has received the money.
“The letter reads in part: “We refer to your letter dated November 5, 2021 with Ref. No: CR:3000/EFCC/LS/CMU/REC-STE/VOL.4/047 on the above subject and wish to confirm the details of the receipt of the amount as stated below: Bank: Sterling Bank Plc; Amount: N19, 333, 333,333.36; Date of receipt: 04 November, 2021”
The EFCC, which gave insights into the recovery of the cash, said the management of Sterling Bank Plc admitted the existence of such an account.
