The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported on Sunday that it has recently recovered $445,000 and N3 billion in its ongoing investigation into the scandal within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, this recovery took place between March and April, supplementing the earlier recovery of N30 billion before March, as referenced by EFCC Chairman Olu Olukoyede in an interview. Oyewale clarified, “The chairman’s interview, which was released in mid-March, mentioned the N30 billion recovered up to that point.
However, since then, the commission has recovered an additional N2.7 billion and $445,000 in connection with the ongoing probe.”
The EFCC initiated the investigation following a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari after the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Beta Edu.
The probe also includes Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the Coordinator of the National Social Insurance Programmes Agency, Halima Shehu.
In a statement titled “Beta Edu and Other Matters: For the Purpose of Clarity,” EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale affirmed that no officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs have been cleared in the investigations into financial misappropriation.
The statement further noted that the EFCC has recovered a total of N32.7 billion and $445,000 during the ongoing investigation, uncovering fraudulent activities related to COVID-19 funds, World Bank loans, and Abacha loot.
The EFCC is also investigating banks implicated in the fraud, with managing directors providing valuable statements.
Additionally, the EFCC announced its heightened efforts against financial crimes, following the recent conviction of controversial figure Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
