EFCC Recovers N30bn From Humanitarian Ministry's Looted Funds

EFCC retrieves N30 billion from embezzled funds of the humanitarian ministry

From the N37,170, 855,753.44 purportedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over N30 billion.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, sources within the anti-graft agency revealed that the commission had also unearthed over N500m from the scam involving Umar-Farouk's successor, Betta Edu, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

According to December reports, sum of N37,170,855,753.44 was transferred from government coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with a contractor, James Okwete

The EFCC reportedly recovered N30 billion on Friday after putting a lien on the bank accounts of Okwete and Umar-Farouq, who are still being interrogated by the agency's investigators for allegations of corruption.

Halima Shehu, the National Social Investment Program's suspended coordinator, is also being questioned by the agency regarding an alleged N44 billion fraud, and Edu is still being questioned in relation to an alleged N17 billion fake.

EFCC source information stated, “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.”

Read: Suspended Minister, Betta Edu, Released On Bail To Report To EFCC 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.”

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to comment when asked about the development.