An image circulating on social media platforms claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered 800 million dollars in cash stashed at the home of former Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
The caption reads:
“Breaking News: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Discovered 800 Million Dollars Cash Stack At The Home Of Former Abia State Governor; Okezie Ikpeazu
“Some EFCC officials stormed the House of Former Abia state Governor; Okezie Ikpeazu and recovered 800 Million dollars cash stacked in his house – Taraba Voice”
The image and the caption suggest that the EFCC, the Nigerian agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, raided the house of Ikpeazu, who served as the governor of Abia state from 2015 to 2023, and found a huge amount of money allegedly linked to corruption.
However, a fact check by the Explainer reveals that;
First, the image is not new and has nothing to do with the EFCC or Ikpeazu. A reverse image search on Google shows that the image has been online since 2007, and has been used in various blogs and websites to illustrate stories about drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption.
Read Also: https://theexplainer.com.ng/fact-check-did-protesters-storm-emir-of-ilorins-palace/
According to a Reuters report from August 9, 2007, the image shows a police raid in a wealthy Mexico City neighbourhood, where they found $206 million (106 million pounds) in cash, belonging to drug smugglers who imported chemicals used to make methamphetamines.
Secondly, the image is not of dollars alone, but of various foreign currencies, including euros and pounds.
Thirdly, the caption claims that the source of the information is “Taraba Voice”, but there is no such report on the platform; the last post on its Facebook page was on Feb 9, 2020. The claim does not provide any details about the date, time, or location of the alleged search. Also no credible media platform had reported such news.
Furthermore, the EFCC has not issued any statement or report about discovering the 800 million dollars cash stack at the home of former Abia state governor Ikpeazu.
Verdict: False
The image is old and unrelated to the EFCC or Ikpeazu. It shows a drug raid in Mexico City in 2007. There is no evidence that the EFCC searched or found any money at Ikpeazu’s house.
