The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recovered €5,100 from a notorious romance scammer and returned the funds to the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Juan Ignacio Sell. This achievement underscores the EFCC’s commitment to tackling international financial crimes.
At a ceremony held at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Friday, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede formally handed over the recovered funds to Ambassador Sell, providing relief to Heinz Burchard Einhaus Uchtmann, the victim of the scam.
The scammer, a Nigerian citizen, defrauded Uchtmann of the money through deceptive online practices. The collaboration between the EFCC and the Spanish Police facilitated the recovery of the stolen funds.
Olukoyede expressed gratitude to the Spanish government for its support, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in combating financial crimes. He highlighted that the resources controlled by criminals globally surpass the wealth in the technology sector, necessitating global collaboration to enhance the financial ecosystem’s integrity.
“Financial crimes are borderless,” Olukoyede stated. “Criminals often operate from one country, target victims in another, and transfer proceeds to yet another location. We are determined to ensure that Nigeria is not a safe haven for these individuals.”
Ambassador Sell commended the collaboration between the EFCC and the Spanish Police, noting the significance of seeing tangible results from their efforts. He pledged to strengthen cooperation in training and information exchange, stating, “International crimes clearly call for stronger collaboration between agencies and countries.”
The event marks a significant step in reinforcing the partnership between Nigeria and Spain in the fight against financial crimes, with both parties expressing optimism for future collaborations.
