EFCC recovers N30bn from humanitarian ministry’s looted funds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered over N30bn from the N37,170, 855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
Sources in the anti-graft agency, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said the commission had also uncovered over N500m from the scam associated with Umar-Farouk’s successor, Betta Edu, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
Saturday PUNCH had in December reported that N37,170,855,753.44 was transferred from government coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with a contractor, James Okwete.
It was gathered on Friday that N30bn was recovered by the EFCC following the placement of a lien on the bank accounts of Umar-Farouq and Okwete, who are still being grilled by the anti-graft agency’s investigators.
THE LOUNGE: Wife Finds Out Husband Of SIx Years Has Secret Wife, Three Children, Plan Relocation …
The agency is also still grilling Edu in connection with an alleged N17bn fraud, while the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu, is also still 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 added, “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.
COMMENTS
"If it is not wickedness what is she doing with 30-Billion"
"I knew this woman must be a thief. It was too glaring during that Npower era. It was when she came that many people started complaining. Nigeria needs to start being ruthless with this thing. If you can't sentence this woman to life in imprisonment or outright execution, then parade her across major urban centers in Nigeria with a placard saying “Oju ole re”"
"And that 30bn will be stolen again by another set of thieves in government. All the Abacha loot till date has no positive effect on the country. Money recovered in Nigeria will be stolen again"
"Sadiya Umar-Farouq is lucky to have come to this world as a Nigerian. If this is China, na condolence visit to her family for dy happen since after Buhari's tenure."