In the Humanitarian Ministry scandal that has been unfolding over the months, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission unravelled other fraudulent dealings involving Abacha recovered loot at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, World Bank loans, and fraudulent dealings with COVID-19 funds. As part of the investigation into the alleged malfeasance, President Tinubu suspended all programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). He further suspended the CEO of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, on January 2, and Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, on January 8.
According to Dele Oyewale, the Federal Government allocated funds to the ministry for the implementation of poverty alleviation initiatives. Furthermore, he asserts that the EFCC’s investigation into the ministry’s affairs has so far resulted in the retrieval of N32.7 billion and $445,000.
On April 14, the commission acknowledged that no one accused of the crime has been cleared, so they remain guilty as charged and will be prosecuted accordingly.
The spokesperson noted that it is instructive to stress that the Commission’s investigations are not about individuals. The EFCC is investigating a system and an intricate web of fraudulent practices. We are investigating the banks involved in the alleged fraud. The managing directors of the indicated banks have made useful statements to the investigators digging into the infractions. He went further to establish that one of the core investigations ongoing is the abuse of the naira and the dollarization of the economy. Oyewale assured that the Commission is bent on fishing out the defaulters, particularly celebrities, as there are tonnes of their videos flying around.
By Chidimma NWAFOR
