EFCC Uncovers N37bn Fraud In Humanitarian Ministry, Former Minister Indicted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC says it has uncovered an over N37 Billion fraud allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

 Some sources in the Commission say that the money was transferred from the Federal Government’s coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to a contractor, James Okwete.

Following receipt of the funds, Okwete allegedly transferred the sum of N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrew N540,000,000.00 in cash, purchased luxury cars with N288,348,600.00, and bought luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.

About 53 companies were allegedly traced to Okwete, who was also said to have used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. He is also linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.

Investigation with the Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that Okwete is a Director in only 11 of the 53 companies, while the remaining 42 companies’ accounts are only linked to his Bank Verification Number as a signatory to the accounts.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation currently serves as the parent ministry to eight agencies, including the National Social Investment Office, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internationally Displaced Persons, among others.

Sadiya Umar-Farouq was the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. She was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019 as the youngest cabinet member.

Her work with Buhari dates back to his days as the leader and presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC when she was the National Treasurer of the party and later the National Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress, APC. She was later appointed Minister in 2019 by President Buhari.

In 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC said it uncovered N2.67 billion meant for the Ministry’s School Feeding Programme in private bank accounts.

The former ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye disclosed that the Commission unravelled N2.67 billion in personal accounts, being payments made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. He argued that the money was paid when children were not in school.

Other discoveries by the ICPC include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land. Owasanoye said under the Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January and August 15, 2020, of the 268 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, 72 had cumulative infractions of N90 million.

Despite requests by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP to Umar-Farouq to publish details and names of the suspects to the bank accounts, or face legal action, the former Minister failed to reveal their names.

When contacted on the development, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale neither confirmed nor denied the report.