Again, Group petitions EFCC, says Gov Alia Govt mismanaged N66bn Benue funds in 4 months

A pro-democracy group known as Concerned Citizens of Benue for Good Governance has sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to begin investigation of Governor Hyacinth Alia and his officials over money laundering, diversion of public funds to the tune of N66 billion and abuse of office. It is the second petition bordering on embezzlement of public funds that has gone to EFCC against the government of Alia in less than one week. An international reputation lawyers’ group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), had earlier written…

Benue PDP asks EFCC to investigate, prosecute Officials accused of Corruption

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has called on the anti-corruption agencies in the country such as EFCC, ICPC and DSS to ensure that officials of the Benue State government who have been fingered in the alleged embezzlement of local government funds are brought to justice.   The PDP which made the call in a statement signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Chief Bemgba Iortyom, described as unacceptable, reports of mismanagement of taxpayers’ monies by the Governor Hyacinth Alia administration in which N20 billion out of N50 billion…

JUST IN: EFCC detains suspended NSIPA boss Halima Shehu over alleged N37bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly arrested and detained the suspended National Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.   According to reports, her arrest is said to be in connection with an alleged money laundering case of N37,170,855,753.44 discovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, under former Minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.   Recall that President Bola Tinubu had approved the immediate suspension of Shehu from the agency tasked with overseeing social welfare programs, over…

EFCC indicts former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouk for N37b fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has uncovered a total sum of N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under former minister, Mrs Sadiya Umar-Farouk. Details of the ongoing investigation revealed that the money was transferred from the Federal Government’s coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five commercial banks belonging a contractor identified as James Okwete. Okwete is said to have used these funds for personal expenses, including purchasing luxury cars and and acquiring properties in Abuja and Enugu. The document from the…

EFCC arrests wanted ex-minister of Power, Olu Agunloye

Mr Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of State for Power who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been arrested by the agency.   Channels Television quoting a source in the commission reports that Agunloye has been in the custody of EFCC since December 13, 2023   The source said, “He has been with the EFCC since December 13th. But it was not made public.”   Recall that last week, the anti-graft agency declared Agulonye wanted in connection with a $6 billion purported scam involving…

EFCC presents N76.5b budget proposal to House of Reps

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, presented a budget of N76.586billion (Seventy Six Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Million Naira) as its budget proposal for 2024 to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Financial Crimes.   The proposed budget represents a 53.48% increase over and above the Commission’s 2023 appropriation of N49.901billion (Forty Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and One Million Naira). In the budget estimate, a total sum of N37.074 billion( Thirty Seven Billion, Seventy Four Million Naira) was proposed as personnel cost,…

Shall We Trust Olukoyede? By Olaleye Olawale

A couple of months back, I drove past a popular super store in GRA, Ikeja, with two of my friends, and I was stunned to see that the store – Hubmart – was under lock and key. Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know this. Jaiye Opayemi and Femi Abegunde were quick to tell me it had been locked for a while. The story was that it was owned by a former bank MD, who had been convicted for corruption by the EFCC, and therefore shut down the…

EFCC arrests Emefiele after DSS freed him

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has been arrested and detained by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) barely an hour after he regained his freedom Thursday night from the dungeon of the Department of State Services (DSS).   It was learnt that Emefiele is currently being interrogated at the National Headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja over alleged abuse of office during his tenure as the head of the apex bank.   The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, is yet…

The disappearance of Abdulrasheed Bawa ~ by Chidi Odinkalu

Around February 6, 2005, John Githongo, Permanent Secretary in Kenya’s Presidency responsible for Governance and Ethics, resigned after only two years in the role. As Michaela Wrong narrates in her vicarious memoir of Githongo’s tenure, his resignation letter was transmitted from an anonymous grocer’s shop in London at the beginning of what turned out to be a three-year-long exile. He had fled the job “fearing he could be murdered”.   When he took up the position in 2003, Githongo had arrived with energy and ideas from a senior role in…

Group asks EFCC to pick sacked Sen. Abbo over constituency funds lavished on sex toys, partying

Adamawa Inter-Party Coalition has reacted to a statement credited to Elisha Abbo, now a former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District in which he blamed his deserved fate on the Senate President, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio.   Abbo had alleged that Sen. Akpabio had a hand in what he believed was an unfavorable judgment of the Appellate Court against him. Adamawa Inter-Party Coalition has condemned the reckless conduct of Sen. Abbo for over four years. It is sad to note that Adamawa produced the worst Senator in the history…