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N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari - Politics - Nairaland

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EFCC Uncovers N37B Fraud In Humanitarian Ministry, Indicts Sadiya Umar-Farouk / Ortom Hands Over, Passes N187bn Debt To Successor / D’Banj: We Reported N-power Fraud To ICPC – Humanitarian Ministry (2) (3) (4)

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N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by Kuginzi: 10:00am On Dec 25, 2023
By Abiodun Sanusi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a contractor, James Okwete, in connection with the ongoing probe into the N37bn allegedly laundered by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development under former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

A top EFCC official, who confided in our correspondent on Sunday, said the contractor had made useful statements concerning Umar-Farouk and former directors-general of the ministry.

The development coincides with the probe of three other ministers, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, for graft estimated at N150bn.

“It is not only Umar-Farouk we are investigating. Three other former ministers are also under probe. They were allegedly involved in graft to the tune of N150bn,’’ a credible source in the EFCC confided in our correspondent on Sunday.

Sources said Umar-Farouk and some former agencies’ directors-general under the ministry might be arrested by the anti-graft commission following the details of the financial misappropriation so far revealed to investigators by the contractor.

The ex-minister could not be reached for comments on Sunday. Also, when our correspondent contacted her former media aide, Nneka Ikem, she did not pick her phone calls neither did she respond to an SMS sent to her.

Investigation revealed that the N37.1bn was transferred from the Federal Government’s coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with Okwete.

Impeccable sources confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that Okwete, who is being held at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, had been cooperating with investigators.

According to the EFCC officials, the contractor was arrested four days ago.
A source said, “The contractor, Mr Okwete, who was used in laundering the money had been arrested by the commission. He is currently detained in our custody and has been giving investigators more details that have indicted the former Minister, Sadiya and some DGs under the ministry, and they may be brought in anytime soon too.”

Alleged N37bn fraud

Another source noted, “The contractor involved in the N37.bn fraud has been arrested and would spend Christmas in our custody. He has given some names, and the former humanitarian affairs minister and directors-general in the ministry were linked to the fraud.”

The PUNCH reports that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs currently serves as the parent ministry to 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, among others.

Umar-Farouq was the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
She was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019 as the youngest cabinet member.

Her work with Buhari dates back to his days as the leader and presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change when she was the national treasurer of the party and later the national treasurer of the All Progressives Congress.

Documents obtained by The PUNCH revealed that following receipt of the funds, Okwete transferred N6,746,034,000 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrew N540 million in cash, purchased luxury cars with N288,348,600 and bought luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.

So far, 53 companies had been traced to Okwete, who was also said to have used 47 of the firms to secure Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86.

He is also linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks of which 134 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.

Checks by our correspondent with the Corporate Affairs Commission revealed that Okwete is a director in only 11 of the 53 companies, while the remaining 42 companies’ accounts were linked to his Bank Verification Number as a signatory to the accounts.

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

"The money was sent to 38 bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000 to Bureau De Change Operators, N540mn withdrawn in cash, N288,348,600 used to purchase cars and used N2,195,115,000 to purchase choice
properties within Abuja and Enugu State.

Fifty-three companies were traced to the suspect. He used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86.

‘’Okwete is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 of the 143 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale declined comments.

"I can’t speak on that, please,” Oyewale said.

Meanwhile, in 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said it uncovered N2.67bn meant for the ministry’s school feeding programme in private bank accounts.

The former ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the commission unravelled N2.67bn in personal accounts, being payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Other discoveries by the ICPC include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land.

Owasanoye said under the Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January and August 15, 2020, of the 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas, 72 had cumulative infractions of N90m.

The former ICPC chairman argued that the money was paid when children were not in school.

Despite requests by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to Umar-Farouq to publish details and names of the suspects, the former minister failed to reveal their names to date.

Reacting to this, SERAP via its official Facebook handle said: “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 are 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.

"If the names are not immediately published, we’ll issue a freedom of information request to ensure that those involved are named and shamed.

“We’ll also pursue appropriate legal actions to hold suspected perpetrators to account, in the public interest.

"Diverting funds meant to feed school children [who are already disproportionately affected by corruption], especially during COVID-19 is a blatant violation of the rights to education, health, and dignity, as well as the government’s own COVID-19 transparency frameworks.

"Corruption in school feeding increases distrust in the government. The Federal Government must ensure transparency and accountability measures are fundamental to all school feeding and other initiatives in the context of COVID-19, to ensure the children receive the support they need.”

https://punchng.com/n187bn-fraud-efcc-arrests-humanitarian-ministrys-contractor-probes-four-buhari-ministers/

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Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by Chicagograduate(m): 10:07am On Dec 25, 2023
Arrest and release on bail and that will be the end.
We have corruption cases of politicians date back to 2000 that have not been concluded.

3 Likes

Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by Senioreddy: 10:32am On Dec 25, 2023
The outcome of this investigation is just to ensure they collect their own share of the largesse. Nothing will come out of the investigation. It's only Emefiele that's in deep shit cos he openly came out not only to contest but also seemed to have attempted to frustrate tinubu's ambition

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Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by SalamRushdie: 10:39am On Dec 25, 2023
Why are they arresting only the southerners

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Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by DatNiggaDaz: 10:46am On Dec 25, 2023
Why arresting the contractors Are they the government workers who failed on due diligence

The politicians fröm the higher muslim caliphate under Buhari can't be touched.
Through the MU-MU MALADMINISTRATION, the ELM emilokan lower muslims are giving Higher muslim caliphate from the North looting passes .. while they use Southern Christian appointees & politicians as scape goats to cover the looting tracks of their HMC.

Servitude is a disease

This Media arrest is just a smoke scree. It is just a diversion tactics employed to divert the attention of Nigerians from the disastrous effects of rigging, stealing Nigeria'smandate, while keeping their mind busy on frivolities

An ELM will never dare to arrest a member of the higher muslim caliphate HMC. The day any of them tries it will be the day politics of sophisticatiion & building bridges will take a new tremendous Dimension

2 Likes

Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by faceland: 2:48am On Dec 26, 2023
SalamRushdie:
Why are they arresting only the southerners

Poor massager. How can he tell his boss no when they told him to hide loot?

She allegedly used some of the money to sponsor her husband to run for governor under the APC in Bauchi (which he lost).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiTVFZn4vC4

One of the good thing about Tinubu regime is that a Hausa/Fulani is not head of EFCC (may be first time in the history of Nigeria), otherwise Buhari and his friends would hide 100% of all the loots. At least they should return 10%.

1 Like

Re: N187bn Fraud:efcc Arrests Humanitarian Ministry’s Contractor, Probes Four Buhari by Dsimmer: 9:06am On Dec 26, 2023
Most of them are fraudster including the CBN emefiele. How about that Nigeria Air scammer? Even our electricity distribution companies etc. All of them need to be dealt with tbh.

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