THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it secured 2,220 convictions across all its commands in 2021.
This, it said, represented a 98.49 per cent success rate in prosecution as it lost only 34 cases during the period.
The figure, which reportedly emerged from a review of the commission’s performance last year, showed that the Lagos command recorded the highest convictions of 481.
The command is closely followed by the Ibadan command with 324 convictions, while the Port Harcourt zonal command had 230.
A statement on Thursday, by the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, titled, ‘EFCC secures 2,220 convictions in 2021,’ said the convictions were the highest ever recorded by the anti-graft agency since inception.
It said, “Before 2021, the highest record of conviction by the commission was secured in 2019 with 1,280 convictions. The 2,220 record of 2021 is a 127.5 per cent improvement over the 2019 record.
“Interestingly too, the 2,220 record represents a 98.49 per cent success rate in prosecution as the commission lost only 34 cases during this period.”
The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, reportedly commended the commission’s personnel for their industry and dedication despite the challenges of criminal prosecution in court.
He assured them that “the EFCC will continue to motivate all categories of staff members for greater efficiency through capacity development and other incentives.”
Credit: PUNCH