By Mohammed Bello Doka
In a significant development following an ongoing probe into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called in 20 senior directors and officials from the ministry. The PUNCH reports that several individuals were questioned at the EFCC headquarters on Thursday.
This action comes in the wake of a thorough investigation report on the ministry and recommendations submitted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to the EFCC earlier this week.
According to an undisclosed source who shared insights with a correspondent from The PUNCH, "The EFCC is also conducting inquiries into certain officials in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Approximately 20 director-generals and civil servants are currently under interrogation, with some already questioned and more expected to undergo scrutiny as the investigation unfolds."
Moreover, the investigation scope has broadened to unveil financial irregularities dating back to the establishment of the ministry in 2019. The source underscored the extensive nature of the fraud, spanning multiple projects and programs executed over the years, involving both the prior and current administrations.
It is essential to note that former ministers Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Betta Edu, and Halima Shehu are not the exclusive subjects of the inquiry; numerous civil servants and ministry officials are implicated as well.
Insights suggest that the collaboration between the EFCC and the ICPC aims to uncover additional instances of financial misconduct and wrongdoing by civil servants since the beginning of the Buhari administration. Previous reports outlined how the ICPC successfully intercepted and recovered N50 billion from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs between July and August 2023 during Sadiya Umar-Farouq's tenure. The funds, on the verge of embezzlement, were recuperated by the ICPC and subsequently deposited into the Central Bank of Nigeria.
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