Npower: Sadiya Umar-Farouk Investigated For over ₦37,100,000,000 fraud
According to Npower News, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recovered ₦30,000,000,000 in the case involving suspended Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
Betta Edu was suspended as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation following the approval for the transfer of ₦650,000,000 into a personal account.
According to Npower News, following the development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, directed an investigation into the allegations and subsequently suspended Betta Edu from office.
Betta Edu was later invited for interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and arrested. Betta Edu was later released on bail.
Betta Edu had also pleaded not guilty to her crimes.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also investigating the predecessor of Betta Edu Sadiya Umar-Farouk over ₦37,100,000,000 fraud as well as Ms Halima Shehu, the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) an agency under the ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Ms Halima Shehu was arrested and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the transfer of ₦44,000,000,000 from the NSIPA account to some suspicious personal and corporate accounts within the last four days in December 2023.
But speaking in an interview with “EFCC Alert”, a publication of the agency, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede said ₦30,000,000,000 have so far been recovered since the commencement of investigation into the alleged fraud case involving the suspended minister, Betta Edu.
According to Npower News, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede said the recovered funds were already in the custody of the federal government.
“Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over ₦30,000,000,000, which is already in the cofffers of the federal government”, Ola Olukoyede said.
“We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.
“It takes time to conclude investigations. We started this matter less than six weeks ago.
“There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it and we need to follow through some of the discoveries that we have seen”, Ola Olukoyede said.
Ola Olukoyede said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was investigating fifty bank accounts where stashed funds were traced.
“Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.
“As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal”, Ola Olukoyede said.
According to Npower News, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede said recent high profile investigation conducted by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was proof of its commitment to contain corruption in the country.
“Then you ask about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on. Nigerians have seen the impact of what we have done so far, by way of some people being placed on suspension and by way of the recoveries that we have made. You have seen that the programme itself has been suspended.
“We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation. If it is about seeing people in jail, well let them wait, everything has a process to follow.
“So Nigerians should wait and give us the benefit of the doubt”, he said.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede also called for a united front in the fight against corruption.
“Nobody can fight the corruption war alone. So, we want Nigerians to believe in our capacity to fight this battle. We must also come together and agree that corruption is bad, and so when we are prosecuting corrupt persons, Nigerians should believe in it.
“We expect Nigerians to also appeal to their conscience, because the negative impact of corruption is all over for all to see”, Ola Olukoyede said.
Ola Olukoyede further stated that “we must agree that what is wrong is wrong. I also appeal to other stakeholders – the National Assembly, the Judiciary to support us in this mission.
“Every Nigerian must be a corruption fighter. When you see something wrong, say something. Challenge corrupt politicians in your locality. Take them up.
Take your governors up on the allocations they receive and make them accountable. By so doing you will be supporting the fight against corruption”, Ola Olukoyede said.
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