EFCC charges Buhari’s minister, contractor after finding N37bn in fraud in humanitarian ministry

A total of N37,170,855,753.44 has been unearthed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as money was laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

Information about the current investigation was received exclusively. It appears that funds were moved from the Federal Government’s coffers to 38 distinct bank accounts held by contractors James Okwete or affiliated with five traditional commercial banks.

After receiving the money, Okwete is said to have transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, taken out N540,000,000.00 in cash, and used N288,348,600.00 to buy expensive automobiles and N2,195,115,000.00 to buy expensive residences in Abuja and Enugu State.

Okwete was accused of being the owner of 53 firms, 47 of which he reportedly utilised to obtain contracts from the Federal Government worth N27,423,824,339.86. Additionally, he is connected to 143 bank accounts across 12 commercial banks, of which 134 are corporate accounts connected to various businesses.

After checking with the Corporate Affairs Commission, our reporter discovered that Okwete is only a director in 11 out of the 53 companies; the accounts of the other 42 firms are only associated with his Bank Verification Number as a signature.

Currently, 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—are under the umbrella of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The first Minister of Social Development, Disaster Management, and Humanitarian Affairs was Umar-Farouq. In July 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari named her as the youngest member of the cabinet.

Her involvement with Buhari goes back to the time he led the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change and ran for president, during which time she served as the party’s national treasurer and then the All Progressives Congress’ national treasurer.

President Buhari later nominated her as a minister in 2019.

“The subject (Okwete) received the sum of N37,170,855,753.44 from the Federal Government coffers linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2018 and 2023,” the EFCC report disclosed.

38 bank accounts located in five historic commercial banks received the funds. The suspect paid N2,195,115,000.00 to acquire prime properties in Abuja and Enugu State, transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, and took N540,000,000.00 out in cash.

53 businesses were linked to the culprit. He lifted contracts worth N27,423,824,339.86 from the Federal Government by using 47 of the companies. Twelve commercial banks have 143 bank accounts connected to Okwete, of which 134 are corporate accounts connected to various businesses.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission reported in 2020 that it had found N2.67 billion in private bank accounts intended for the ministry’s school feeding initiative.

Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the former chairman of the ICPC, revealed that the commission uncovered N2.67 billion in personal accounts that were used to pay for school lunches at several federal colleges in 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown.

The ICPC has also found 18 buildings, 12 commercial spaces, and 25 land parcels. According to Owasanoye, 72 Ministries, Departments, and Agendas out of the 268 reviewed between January and August 15, 2020, had cumulative infractions of N90 million, according to the Open Treasury Portal examination.

The money, according to the former ICPC chairman, was paid when the kids weren’t in school.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project asked Umar-Farouq to release the suspects’ names and other details, but the former minister refused.

In response, SERAP posted on its official Facebook page, saying, “We’re calling on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development of Nigeria, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, to immediately publish details of those suspected to be responsible, or face legal action, following the disclosure by the ICPC that N2.67bn meant for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown ended up in private bank accounts.”

“We’ll file a freedom of information request to make sure that individuals responsible are identified and publicly humiliated if the names are not released right away.

In the interest of the public, we will also take the proper legal steps to hold suspected offenders accountable.

“Diverting monies intended for feeding schoolchildren—who are already disproportionately affected by corruption—especially during COVID-19 is a flagrant breach of the government’s own COVID-19 transparency principles and the rights to education, health, and dignity.

“Belief in the government is heightened when there is corruption in school meals.” In the context of COVID-19, the federal government must make sure that accountability and transparency standards are essential to all school food programmes and other efforts in order to guarantee that the kids get the help they require.

Dele Oyewale, an EFCC spokeswoman, did not confirm or refute the story when questioned about the situation.

Simply put, Oyewale responded, “No comments on that.”

Attorney and CSO respond

Human rights attorney Tolu Babaleye responded, saying, “If we are being honest, there was never before such corruption during the Buhari administration. Diezani Alison-Madueke was the primary accused under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, but under Buhari, several people have cases to answer. Nigerians have a right to know what transpired at the ministry of humanitarian affairs, the aviation industry, and other areas. I urge President Bola Tinubu to look into that government so that justice may be done and Nigerians can find out who is corrupt.

Ezenwa Nwagwu, the chairman of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, encouraged Tinubu to look into all prior governments.

“Not only should Buhari’s government be investigated, but all previous governments and MDA heads as well. Those found guilty should be prosecuted,” Nwagwu stated.

Similarly, Tinubu is morally incapable of investigating Buhari’s government because he is an essential component of the APC government, but it is extremely important to look into the Buhari administration, according to Jackson Omenazu, Counsellor of a Civil Society Organisation, International Social Justice and Human Rights.

“Tinubu cannot absolve himself of the mismanagement of Buhari’s affairs. The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, is only a victim of events. He only committed a crime because he foolishly lifted his head and expressed interest in becoming president.

Jiti Ogunye, a different attorney and public affairs analyst, expressed sadness that the law did not allow for the current administration to investigate the previous administration after the Air Nigeria and CBN scandals.

Ogunye pointed out that the law only permitted the current administration to gather information by looking into those, including the President, who had participated in corrupt activities under the previous administration.

He declared, “The law does not allow an administration that blanket authority to probe the prior administration in the way Nigerians imagine, even though the idea of a holistic and complete examination of a past administration by the following administration fascinates Nigerians.

“The EFCC and ICPC are our anti-corruption agencies. Money laundering, anti-corruption, and criminal laws are all in place. The Proceeds of Crime Act was passed not too long ago. Anti-corruption laws do not allow for the targeting of an administration in such a manner; however, if certain individuals, including a former president, are suspected of money laundering, corrupt practices, or corruption crimes, and if they are found guilty of all other offences that involve the abuse of power and corruption, they may be the subject of a special investigation.