EFCC don hand 659 former Adamawa school staff ₦1.05bn wey dem recover

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) don hand over bank draft of ₦1,054,919,532.61 to 659 former staff of the Adamawa State Post-Primary Schools Management Board, the commission talk on Thursday.

EFCC Gombe Zonal Directorate present the draft as recovered money for the workers' outstanding entitlements, according to statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale.

For the workers wey the thing affect, the handover close wait wey start more than ten years ago, when dem declare their appointments illegal. Many don go years without the pay wey dem talk say dem earn.

How dem recover the money

EFCC talk say the case start with 2024 petition from Abraham B. Song. He allege say the staff dem employ by Adamawa State Government in 2012 and dem work for 29 months for secondary schools across the state.

According to the petitioner, the state government declare their appointments illegal in 2014. The workers come go National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Yola Judicial Division, wey dey sit for Jos, and the court order the state to pay their outstanding entitlements.

EFCC talk say dem allegedly no comply with the order, and that lead to garnishee proceedings against the state government accounts.

During its investigation, the commission talk say e receive intelligence wey suggest say the funds fit be misapplied. E talk say e preserve the money pending the outcome of its probe, wey lead to the recovery and return to the beneficiaries.

Acting Zonal Director of the Gombe Directorate, Austine Adache, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, talk at the ceremony say the commission remain committed to accountability, justice and returning recovered funds to their rightful owners. He talk say victims of financial misconduct suppose get redress in line with the law.

The beneficiaries' counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, receive the bank draft on their behalf. He thank the commission for its investigation and talk say he always believe in its capacity to fight economic and financial crimes.

Song, wey his petition start the case, also praise EFCC intervention. He talk say the recovered money go help ease the financial losses and hardship wey the workers suffer.

EFCC no talk for its statement whether anybody don charge over the funds. The commission account of the case rest on the petitioner allegations and its own investigation.

Wetin go happen next

The draft now go to the 659 beneficiaries through their counsel. EFCC no give timeline for when individual workers go collect their pay.