The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to stop any attempt to re-loot properties and funds it has recovered from corrupt individuals.
This assurance came from the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, during his visit to the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, in Kaduna State.
The university, which is now under the Federal Government, was formerly a private institution known as Nok University.
It was founded in 2021 by Anthony Hassan, who once worked as a Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Health.
In June 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that Hassan used public money obtained through illegal means to acquire the school and other properties such as a hotel, event centre, and water factory.
The court ordered that these assets be permanently forfeited to the government.
During his speech at the campus, Olukoyede said the Commission wants every Nigerian to see the benefits of proper governance.
He explained that the return of recovered properties to serve the public, like converting the university to a federal institution, is proof that stolen funds can be put to good use.
He also mentioned that this is not the first time the EFCC is handing over recovered properties for the public’s benefit.
He spoke about his recent trip to Bayelsa State where he commissioned projects funded with money recovered from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Olukoyede stated that the President had directed the transfer of the Kachia project to the Ministry of Education and that the EFCC has followed through with the instruction.
He said their presence at the university shows that the institution is now active and will serve the people, especially the local community.
The EFCC Chairman said this move is part of a larger effort to ensure that public assets recovered from corrupt practices are used properly and openly, for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.
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