The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully recovered more than N30 billion from the alleged money laundering activities within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, totaling N37,170,855,753.44. This financial malfeasance is associated with the tenure of the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk. Additionally, the EFCC has unveiled another N500 million from fraudulent activities linked to Umar-Farouk’s successor, Betta Edu, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

The funds were reported to have been transferred from government coffers to 38 different bank accounts across five legacy commercial banks connected to contractor James Okwete. A significant portion of the recovered sum, N30 billion, was obtained through the imposition of a lien on the bank accounts of Umar-Farouq and Okwete, both of whom are still undergoing interrogation by EFCC investigators.

The ongoing investigations also involve Betta Edu, who is facing allegations of a N17 billion fraud, resulting in the recovery of over N500 million. Halima Shehu, the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, is similarly under scrutiny for an alleged N44 billion fraud.

The EFCC, when contacted for comments, refrained from providing any official statement on the matter. In a separate development, the EFCC disclosed that a total of N70,556,658,370.5 was recovered between October 2023 and January 19, 2024. The breakdown 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, and secured the conviction of 747 individuals involved in various financial crimes. Notably, the agency’s headquarters alone recovered N49,607,391,330.44, $3,900,200.75, £2,000, and £110.

Furthermore, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that a significant number of the 747 convictions were related to cybercrime offences. The EFCC emphasized its commitment to investigating high-profile money laundering cases, with the total amount involved in such cases reaching approximately N130.1 billion as of January 31, 2024, as per the document titled ‘100 Days in Office.

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