The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to begin a fresh prosecution of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
This is coming one year after a Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the release of Kalu who is currently a senator from prison.
The EFCC chairman, Abdularasheed Bawa, said the politician who doubles as Chief Whip of the ninth Senate would be prosecuted by the agency all over again.
The anti-graft agency boss also said he was not perturbed over the threats to his life and he was determined to prosecute the many pending cases under trial.
Bawa disclosed this on Thursday while addressing journalists during the weekly ministerial interview at the State House in Abuja.
He gave insight into ongoing prosecutions, challenges, and increasing cases of financial crimes since his assumption into office 100 days ago.
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He also clarified reports accredited to him concerning the involvement of a minister in the laundering of about $37 million into real estate. He disclosed that he simply made reference to an old case involving a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Madueke.
The EFCC chairman further disclosed that since his first 100 days in office, the agency had been working on a number of proactive strategies including a special control unit against money laundering, established particularly to address non-designated financial institutions including car dealers, real estate, and jewellery dealers.
Bawa said he was confident that when the unit was fully established, corruption would significantly decline in the country.
He then added that the agency was equally working towards the development of a biometric ownership database to address money laundering.
According to him, most proceeds of crime are laundered through real estate and have become a huge challenge. He gives examples of property acquired especially in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt where billions of naira are laundered through this means.
He, however, declined to disclose actual perpetrators or the properties involved.
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He revealed that since his assumption, a number of recoveries had been made including N6billion, $161million, £13,000 pounds, and €1,730.
Internet fraudsters numbering 1,502 have also been apprehended between January to June 2021 and efforts are underway to file about 800 of them. A hundred cases will be filed in court.