The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly exposed a N37,170,855,753.44 fraud allegedly carried out in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk. Details of the ongoing investigation obtained by Sunday PUNCH indicate that the funds were transferred from the Federal Government’s accounts to 38 bank accounts linked to a contractor, James Okwete.
According to the findings, Okwete, after receiving the funds, allegedly engaged in various financial activities, including transferring N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrawing N540,000,000.00 in cash, buying luxury cars with N288,348,600.00, and acquiring properties in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.
The EFCC document reportedly reveals that Okwete is connected with 53 companies, using 47 of them to secure Federal Government contracts totaling N27,423,824,339.86. Additionally, he is linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks, with 134 of them being corporate accounts associated with different companies.
Former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq, the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, is implicated in the investigation. The EFCC document details the financial transactions and activities allegedly involving Okwete and the ministry between 2018 and 2023.
This development follows previous revelations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which uncovered N2.67 billion meant for the ministry’s school feeding program in private bank accounts in 2020.
Despite requests from groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to disclose details and names of the suspects, the former minister reportedly failed to provide the information. SERAP has threatened legal action if the names are not revealed promptly.
When contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to confirm or deny the story, responding with “No comments on that.”
Various individuals, including human rights lawyers and civil society organizations, have reacted to the news, expressing the need for thorough investigations and accountability. Some have called for broader probes into the administration, while others emphasized the importance of focusing on individuals involved in corruption.
The legal and procedural challenges of conducting comprehensive probes into past administrations are highlighted, with suggestions that anti-corruption laws are more suited for specific investigations into individuals suspected of corrupt practices.