EFCC Retrieves N30bn From Humanitarian Ministry’s Embezzled Funds

EFCC Retrieves N30bn From Humanitarian Ministry’s Embezzled Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has managed to retrieve more than N30bn from the alleged laundering activities within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, totaling N37,170, 855,753.44, under the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

According to sources within the anti-graft agency, the commission has also uncovered over N500m related to questionable activities involving Umar-Farouk’s successor, Betta Edu, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

It is reported that the N30bn was recovered through the imposition of a lien on the bank accounts of Umar-Farouk and Okwete, who are currently undergoing investigations by the anti-graft agency.

Additionally, Edu is being questioned regarding an alleged N17bn fraud, while the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu, is also under scrutiny over an alleged N44bn fraud.

An EFCC source revealed, “The commission has now recovered over N30bn from the laundered N37.1bn that was linked to former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq. We were able to recover the money after we placed liens on the bank accounts of the former minister and the contractor, Mr Okwete, who was linked to the fraud under probe. Both the minister and the contractor are still being grilled by our investigators daily.”

A senior EFCC investigator added, “We have uncovered another N17bn money laundering from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and for the alleged fraud linked to the suspended minister, Betta Edu, we have so far recovered over N500m. Edu is still answering questions about the fraud.

“The NSIPA coordinator, Halima Shehu, is still being grilled over the N44bn fraud linked to her at the NSIPA; our investigators aren’t leaving any stone unturned.”

Furthermore, the EFCC revealed that a total of N70,556,658,370.5 was recovered between October 2023 and January 19, 2024.

The breakdown of the recovery includes N60,969,047,634.25, $10,522,778.57, £150,002.10 and €4,119.90.

During this period, the EFCC received 3,325 petitions, accepted 2,657 of them, and secured the conviction of 747 individuals for financial crimes such as money laundering and Internet fraud.

Notably, the EFCC headquarters alone recovered N49,607,391,330.44, $3,900,200.75, £2,000, and £110.