By Felix Khanoba
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over recovered household items, including hundreds of bed frames and mattresses, to the Federal Ministry of Education for distribution to Unity Schools across the country as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to channel recovered assets into public service.
The assets, comprising 501 double-decker bed frames, 939 mattresses and 12 wooden beds with mattresses, were formally transferred during a restitution ceremony in Abuja.
Speaking at the event in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the handover reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that assets recovered from criminal activities are deployed to improve learning conditions and students’ welfare.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration has continued to prioritise the education sector by converting proceeds of crime into investments that directly benefit young Nigerians.
He noted that the recovered items would improve accommodation in colleges and other educational institutions, while also supporting the government’s drive to expand access to quality education.
Alausa also cited the Federal Government’s decision to convert a previously forfeited university facility into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, instead of selling it, describing the move as another example of redirecting recovered assets toward national development.
According to him, the institution has already admitted more than 3,000 students into programmes covering applied sciences, engineering, nursing, health sciences and other critical disciplines.
He further commended EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, for strengthening public confidence in the anti-graft agency through professionalism and sustained efforts in combating corruption, procurement fraud and cybercrime.
Earlier, Olukoyede said the items were recovered during Operation Eagle Flush, one of the Commission’s largest cybercrime operations conducted towards the end of 2024.
He disclosed that the operation resulted in the arrest of about 792 suspects, including foreign nationals, who were subsequently investigated, prosecuted, convicted and repatriated after serving their prison terms.
The EFCC chairman explained that the restitution aligns with the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that recovered assets are transparently utilised for national development.
“The decision to hand over these facilities to the Federal Ministry of Education is in line with the federal government’s determination to improve the quality of education in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu made this decision fully conscious of the fact that children and youth are the greatest victims of corruption and financial crimes,” the EFCC boss said.
He added that the Commission has continued to support the education sector through the transfer of the forfeited university facility now used by the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and by deploying recovered proceeds of crime as part of the seed funding for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
According to him, about 1.4 million students have already benefited from the student loan scheme through tuition support and monthly upkeep allowances.
The handover was formalised with the signing of a Deed of Release by representatives of the EFCC and the Federal Ministry of Education, including the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan.
