In a startling revelation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed an alleged embezzlement of N37,170,855,753.44 within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under the leadership of former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk. The funds were reportedly transferred from the Federal Government’s coffers to 38 different bank accounts linked to a contractor, James Okwete.
According to reports by The PUNCH, Okwete is accused of diverting substantial sums, including N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrawing N540,000,000.00 in cash, splurging N288,348,600.00 on luxury cars, and acquiring opulent properties in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.
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The intricate web of corruption involves 53 companies associated with Okwete, who allegedly secured Federal Government contracts totaling N27,423,824,339.86 using 47 of these companies. Shockingly, Okwete is linked to 143 bank accounts across 12 commercial banks, with 134 being corporate accounts tied to various companies.
Sadiya Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and pioneer of the ministry, now finds herself in the crosshairs of the EFCC’s investigation. Appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019, Umar-Farouk has a longstanding history with Buhari, dating back to their time in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.
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This scandal comes in the wake of a similar revelation in 2020, where the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered N2.67 billion intended for the ministry’s school feeding program stashed in private bank accounts. The former ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the funds were discovered in personal accounts during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, a period when children were not attending school.
The ICPC’s findings also included assets such as 18 buildings, 12 business premises, and 25 plots of land acquired through questionable means. Owasanoye revealed that, among 268 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, 72 had cumulative infractions amounting to N90 million during the Open Treasury Portal review conducted between January and August 15, 2020.
As investigations unfold, the scale of the alleged financial mismanagement raises serious concerns about accountability within Nigeria’s humanitarian sector. Citizens and stakeholders await the outcome of the EFCC’s probe, hoping for justice and transparency in handling public funds.
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