The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has instructed all its Zonal Commands to conduct an immediate and comprehensive audit of exhibits following the recent theft of over $400,000 in cash and valuable jewellery from the Lagos and Kaduna offices of the Commission.
In a statement issued today, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the theft occurred in the early hours of January 20, 2025. The stolen items, which were part of ongoing investigations, included significant amounts of foreign currency and high-value jewellery that had been seized in connection with financial crimes.
"We take this breach of security very seriously," said Uwujaren. "The EFCC remains fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in the discharge of its mandate. We are working closely with law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for this theft."
The EFCC has already launched an internal investigation into the incident, with the cooperation of both the Nigerian Police Force and other relevant security agencies. The Commission has also initiated the process of reviewing and tightening security measures across all its offices nationwide to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In accordance with the directive issued by the EFCC leadership, all Zonal Commands are to complete their audits and submit detailed reports by January 31, 2025. The results of the audit will be used to ensure that any vulnerabilities in the handling of exhibits are swiftly addressed and corrected.