In a startling revelation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed a staggering N37.2 billion fraud allegedly carried out within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the tenure of the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, who severed under former president Buhari’s administration
The shocking discovery raises serious concerns about the misuse of funds intended for alleviating suffering and empowering the vulnerable in society.
As reported exclusively by The PUNCH, the fraudulent scheme involved the siphoning of substantial amounts from government coffers into 38 bank accounts associated with a single contractor, James Okwete. These accounts, spread across five major banks, served as the conduits for a series of illicit activities.
James Okwete, the suspected mastermind, allegedly employed a money laundering tactic by channeling N6.74 billion to Bureau de Change operators. Additionally, he reportedly led a lavish lifestyle, making extravagant cash withdrawals totaling N540 million, spending N288 million on luxury cars, and acquiring prime properties in Abuja and Enugu amounting to a staggering N2.2 billion.
However, the scope of the alleged plunder extends beyond personal extravagance. Investigators have identified 53 companies connected to Okwete, with 47 of them allegedly securing lucrative government contracts worth N27.4 billion. The financial web spun by Okwete includes a remarkable 143 bank accounts across 12 different banks, with 134 belonging to corporations linked to his network.
This revelation follows the 2023 disclosure by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), revealing the mysterious diversion of N2.67 billion intended for the Ministry of Education’s school feeding program during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, the former ICPC Chairman, uncovered the misappropriation hidden in personal accounts linked to payments made to some federal colleges.
The ICPC’s investigation extended further, with their Open Treasury Portal review between January and August 2020 exposing a network of financial malfeasance across 72 government agencies. Irregularities amounting to a cumulative N90 million were discovered, casting a dark shadow over public financial management.
Despite calls from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urging former Education Minister Adamu Adamu to publicly disclose the names of those suspected of involvement in the scandal, the Minister staunchly refused, leaving the specter of corruption looming over key government ministries.
