NEWS
N30bn Clawed Back From Humanitarian Ministry’s Looted Funds – EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made significant strides in combating corruption by recovering a staggering N30bn from the alleged money laundering activities within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The funds, linked to the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, were part of the N37,170,855,753.44 redirected from government coffers.
Moreover, the anti-graft agency has uncovered an additional N500m associated with Betta Edu, the successor to Umar-Farouk, who recently faced suspension by President Bola Tinubu.
These revelations shed light on a complex web of financial improprieties involving 38 bank accounts across five legacy commercial banks, all connected to the contractor James Okwete, as initially reported by BIZTELLERS.
According to report gathered, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully recovered N30bn after placing a lien on the bank accounts of Sadiya Umar-Farouq and contractor James Okwete.
Both individuals are currently undergoing intensive interrogation by the anti-graft agency.
Additionally, Betta Edu is still under scrutiny in relation to an alleged N17bn fraud, while the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu, is also being questioned over an alleged N44bn fraud.
An EFCC source revealed, “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.”
A senior EFCC investigator said “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.”
In another update, the EFCC announced the recovery of a substantial sum amounting to N70,556,658,370.5 between October 2023 and January 19, 2024.
Exclusive details of this recovery were disclosed in an EFCC document titled ‘Operations and Recoveries,’ obtained by our correspondent.
The breakdown includes N60,969,047,634.25, $10,522,778.57, £150,002.10, and €4,119.90, highlighting a comprehensive effort in reclaiming illicit funds during this period.
Providing a comprehensive overview, the EFCC reported receiving a total of 3,325 petitions, accepting 2,657 of them.
During this period, the agency achieved the conviction of 747 individuals for various financial crimes, spanning from money laundering to Internet fraud.
Notably, the EFCC headquarters played a significant role in the overall recovery, securing N49,607,391,330.44, $3,900,200.75, £2,000, and €110.
Highlighting the extensive efforts across various commands, the Maiduguri Zonal Command recovered N58,065,870 and $3,370, Gombe Command secured N127,323,028.50 and $1,500, and Kano Command recovered N141,944,451 and $365.
Additionally, the Makurdi Command reclaimed N53,228,325, Enugu Command secured N202,117,000 and $1,950, Uyo Command recovered N25,299,950 and $710, while Port Harcourt Command excelled with N2,412,247,210.05 and $5,714,389.21.
Noteworthy recoveries include Sokoto Command with N100,696,118.72, Kaduna Command securing N331,494,710.81, $912, £50, and €1,610, Ilorin Command recovering N80,280,580.86 and $880, Abuja Zonal Command with N825,928,463 and $10,000, and Ibadan Zonal Command obtaining N135,519,810, $14,517, £280, and €500.
The Lagos Zonal Command reported a substantial recovery of N6,826,993,798.78, $868,284.61, £147,672.10, and €1,899.90.
In a parallel effort, the Benin Zonal Command secured the recovery of N49,515,987.09 and $5,700.
Simultaneously, the EFCC achieved 747 convictions during this period, predominantly centered on cybercrime and money laundering offenses.
Chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed at a dialogue in Abuja that a significant portion of the convictions stemmed from prosecutions related to cybercrimes.
The EFCC further disclosed that it has deepened its investigation into money laundering cases involving high-profile public officials, including former governors and ministers accused of fraud.
The total amount implicated in these cases has reached around N130.1bn as of January 31, 2024, as revealed in an EFCC document titled ‘100 Days in Office,’ outlining ongoing probes, discoveries, and recoveries under Chairman Ola Olukoyede’s leadership.
The 15th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNCF) is billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from November 30.
This edition of the initiative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would hold be in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government as disclosed on Tuesday when a delegation of the NCDMB and DMG Events met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Pereotubo Akpe, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Leading the delegation, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, conveyed the appreciation of the Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to the state government for its continued support for the forum.
He said, “We appreciate the Bayelsa State Government for its continued partnership and support for the PNC Forum”.
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According to him, the Youth PNC was designed to expose young people in the Niger Delta to emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the competencies required to build successful careers in other sectors of the economy.
Ezeobi added, “We have introduced new initiatives into this year’s programme to ensure that the PNC continues to deliver greater value to participants and address emerging issues in the Nigerian content space.”
The Senior Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr Adebayo Joseph, spoke on plans for the Youth PNC, while the leader of the DMG Events delegation, Ms Olamide Oloko, outlined the major activities planned for the conference.
Oloko said the new initiatives would include a Local Content Roundtable and a two-day programme for Local Community Contractors aimed at helping them scale up their operations.
She added, “The 2026 edition will also feature a breakout session to collate stakeholders’ views on the future direction of Nigerian Content over the next decade.”
Responding, Akpe assured the NCDMB and DMG Events of the state government’s continued support for the PNC Forum.
Akpe said, “The Bayelsa State Government is committed to ensuring that the event is successful and that participants have a conducive and secure environment throughout their stay in the state.”
He said the initiative demonstrated the practical impact of the programme and urged the board to sustain efforts aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the region.
Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.
The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.
Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.
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“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.
Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”
“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.
The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.
Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”
The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.
“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.
The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.
They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.
“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.
“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”
The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.
No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.
Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.
Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.
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He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.
“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.
According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.
“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.
Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.
He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.
The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.
Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.
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