As a follow-up to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation probe, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has summoned 20 senior directors and officials of the ministry.
Some of the officials, The PUNCH learnt, were questioned by investigators at the EFCC headquarters on Thursday.
This latest development followed a detailed investigation report on the ministry and recommendations presented by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to the EFCC on Tuesday.
A source, who confided in one of our correspondents on Thursday, said, “The EFCC is also probing some officials in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Some director-generals and civil servants; about 20 of them, are being interrogated. Some have been quizzed, and more are still coming for interrogation as the investigation continues.”
Financial improprieties
Another source further revealed that the probe had been widened to uncover various financial improprieties that might have been carried out since the ministry was created in 2019.
The source stated, “The fraud that was carried out in the ministry is very massive. It spans several projects and programmes executed over the past years from the immediate past administration into the new administration. Also, ex-minister Sadiya, Betta Edu, and Halima Shehu are not the only ones being quizzed. Several civil servants and ministry officials were involved too.”
Findings indicate that the collaboration between the EFCC and the ICPC would expect to expose more financial misconduct and other mischief perpetrated by civil servants since the Buhari administration period.
The ICPC intercepted and recovered N50bn from the humanitarian affairs ministry between July and August 2023.
The money, which was about to be embezzled, was recovered by the ICPC and paid into the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Some officials had attempted to transfer the N50bn into private bank accounts but it was intercepted and recovered by the ICPC under its former Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye.
In the spirit of synergy and to deepen the ongoing probe of the humanitarian affairs ministry, the ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, presented its investigation report to the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, at a meeting held at the EFCC headquarters.
The meeting had in attendance the chairmen and management staff of the two anti-graft agencies. It was aimed at deepening the cooperation and synergising efforts for greater impact in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive.
The collaboration between the two agencies, Aliyu said, was to strengthen the nation’s fight against corruption, adding that the visit to the EFCC was a show of commitment to the existing relationship between the two agencies.
He expressed the readiness of the ICPC under his leadership to provide the needed support and cooperation in the interest of eradicating corruption in Nigeria.
“We need to work together, and we cannot do this without a good relationship. That’s why I think I need to extend this hand of friendship to the EFCC so that we can effectively partner in the fight against corruption in Nigeria,” he said.
“I am aware that there’s an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the EFCC and ICPC. I’m willing and ready to partner whenever there’s any issue of interest in the fight against corruption.
“I’ll be reaching out to my brother and chairman of EFCC on issues I think we can partner with because there’s no need for us to be duplicating responsibilities, wasting resources and time. I hope with this first meeting, we are going to be meeting regularly to review what we are doing together,’’ he noted.
On his part, Olukoyede concurred with the position of collaboration, saying the meeting had also presented an opportunity for the review of the existing MoU between the two agencies.
“We have areas of similar mandates and with a population of about 250 million people, there’s so much in our hands and I can tell you that the enormity of the work demands that we work together,’’ he noted.
The EFCC boss also said that the political will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fight corruption, as demonstrated in recent events, was enough boost for anti-corruption agencies to give their best.
Sources said the ICPC report detailed the various roles played by several officials in the aborted move to divert the N50bn belonging to the National Social Investment Programme Agency and other infractions.
The report is expected to assist the EFCC in its investigation of the suspended humanitarian affairs minister, Betta Edu, ex-minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and Ms Halima Shehu, the suspended National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme, an agency under the humanitarian ministry.
Edu is being investigated for authorising the transfer of N585m into the private account of an accountant in the ministry, Bridget Oniyelu while Umar-Farouq, who served as a minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is answering tough questions over alleged N37bn money laundering.
Shehu on the other hand is under probe for allegedly moving N44bn NSIP funds into some private and corporate accounts without presidential approval.
Edu, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, had claimed that the N585m payment was meant for vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states.
In her defence, her Media Assistant, Rasheed Olarewaju, argued it was legal within the civil service for such payments to be made into private accounts of staff members, especially project accountants.
But the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein, said she did not honour the request to pay N585m into the private account, adding that the minister was rather advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure.
Govs advise Nigerians
Meanwhile, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have urged Nigerians to await anti-graft investigation findings, and not to judge the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Edu.
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, directed the EFCC chairman to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The Chairman of the Progressives Governor’s Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma who stated this in Abuja, Wednesday night disclosed that the APC governors were united.
Uzodimma also assured that the APC governors would continue to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration to achieve the renewed hope agenda.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Uzodimma said the meeting allowed them to review what is going on in the country and also agree on how best to continue to support President Tinubu’s led Federal Government.
He stated, “The progressive governors’ forum is united in supporting the APC administration ably led by our President Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. We will continue to support him, we will take his policies to the grassroots.
“We have also agreed to ensure that our people come on the same page with the thinking of the government whose primary objective is to secure the country and provide adequate welfare to the good people of our dear country.”
On Edu, he stated, “The only perfect being we have observed and noticed is the Almighty God. The functions of government include encouraging good things and good appointees and discouraging bad things and bad appointees.
“What you just said about Betta Edu, is just an allegation, and in the wisdom of the President, it is being investigated, it is after the investigation is completed and the report made available to the government, that the government will now take the final decision. So we should not be in a hurry and don’t allow any sickness like anxiety cirrhosis.”
In attendance were Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), and Nasir Idris (Kebbi).
Others include Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), among others.
In a related development, a group under the auspices of Akoko Youth Forum has called on Tinubu to carry out a thorough investigation into the alleged graft in the humanitarian affairs ministry.
In a statement issued by its president, Ibukunola Akeju, on Thursday, the group said, “Amid unfolding events that require careful consideration, we adamantly call for a thorough, fair, and unbiased investigation into the allegations surrounding the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The Akoko Youth Forum remains steadfast in its commitment to justice, transparency, and unwavering accountability.”
Group pleads
The AYF also urged the President to ignore some civil society organisations calling for the suspension of the Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
It was reported that New Planet Project Limited, a firm linked to the minister, was mentioned in the alleged N438.1m consultancy contract awarded by the ministry.
But the group which described the minister as “an incorruptible public figure with a stainless reputation,” asked the CSOs to play down the suspension call pending the ongoing investigation on the matter.
The statement read, “The backdrop of these calls revolves around the suspension of Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, amid allegations of misappropriating ministry funds. This scenario has brought to light a significant sum of N438.1 million allegedly linked to Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s company account.
“It is imperative to underscore that Hon Tunji-Ojo relinquished his position as the CEO of the mentioned company five years ago, underscoring his adherence to Nigeria’s laws prohibiting public service officers from engaging in corporate activities. Tunji Ojo is not corrupt, we urge President Tinubu to turn deaf ears to sponsored media reports against him.
“He transcends being merely a public figure; he embodies the aspirations of Akoko, showcasing unparalleled competencies across diverse sectors to uplift our community and its youth. His unwavering dedication to public service seamlessly aligns with the principles of the renewed hope agenda championed by President Tinubu.”
