The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has uncovered more fraud at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The commission’ s spokesperson Dele Oyewale revealed this on Sunday, confirming that it has recovered over N32 billion from the ministry so far.
Oyewale said the agency’s investigations that yielded recovery of over N30 billion was not about individuals but about the intricate web of fraudulent practices in the system.
According to the commission, the recovered fund include the fraudulent dealings involving COVID-19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot that was released to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development.
He said the Federal Government released the fund to alleviate poverty raging among Nigerians.
Oyewale said the staff of humanitarian ministry, including Edu, who were being investigated were not cleared by the commission.
“The EFCC has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“At the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the Humanitarian Ministry were invited by the Commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7billion and $445,000 so far.
“Discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving Covid -19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by the Federal Government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate.
“Investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance. It is instructive to stress that the Commission’s investigations are not about individuals.
“The EFCC is investigating a system and intricate web of fraudulent practices. Banks involved in the alleged fraud are being investigated. Managing Directors of the indicted banks have made useful statements to investigators digging into the infractions.
“Additionally, the EFCC has not cleared anyone allegedly involved in the fraud. Investigations are ongoing and advancing steadily. The public is enjoined to ignore any claim to the contrary,” Oyewale said.
It would be recalled that in January, President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu and Halima Shehu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Authority (NSIPA).
The president also ordered the commission to probe the individuals and their agencies to unravel the root of the matter.
However, in the March edition of the agency’s monthly e-Magazine titled: EFCC Alert, Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the anti-graft commission, had said N30 billion had been recovered from the probe while 50 bank accounts were under probe.
