EFCC Interrogates Bank MDs, Others Over Abacha Loot, COVID-19 Funds, W’Bank Loan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed that it has quizzed the Managing Directors of some banks and suspended officials in the ongoing probe into alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The EFCC said the investigation has revealed that the banks’ MDs and officials were involved in several sharp practices.

The position of the EFCC followed reactions that have greeted the probe of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

As a precursor to the commencement of investigation, the Minister in charge of the Ministry, Betta Edu, was suspended, while her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and the Coordinator of the National Social Insurance Programmes Agency, Halima Shehu, have also been quizzed.

In a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Sunday, the anti-graft agency said its response to the probe stemmed from the “rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development”.

It said at the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the Humanitarian Ministry were invited by the Commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7 billion and $445,000 so far.

Oyewale said discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving COVID-19 funds, World Bank loan and Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by the Federal Government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate.

He said investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance, adding: “It is instructive to stress that the Commission’s investigations are not about individuals.

“The EFCC is investigating a system and intricate web of fraudulent practices.

“Banks involved in the alleged fraud are being investigated.

“Managing Directors of the indicted banks have made useful statements to investigators digging into the infractions.

“Those found wanting will be prosecuted accordingly.

“Additionally, the EFCC has not cleared anyone allegedly involved in the fraud.

“Investigations are ongoing and advancing steadily.

“The public is enjoined to ignore any claim to the contrary.”