The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating 50 bank accounts in connection with alleged scandals in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, from which N30 billion has been recovered. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this in an interview, emphasizing the need for special courts for corruption cases.
The recovered funds have been returned to the Federal Government's coffers. The probe involves the suspended minister, Betta Edu, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and Halima Shehu, the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme.
Edu was suspended following allegations of fraud, including directing the transfer of N585 million to a private account. Umar-Farouq was questioned in connection with the alleged laundering of N37.1 billion during her tenure. Shehu was arrested over the movement of N44 billion from the NSIPA account to suspicious private and corporate accounts.
The EFCC chairman emphasized the complexity of the investigations, stating that over 50 bank accounts have been traced with money from the scandal. Olukoyede called for the establishment of special courts to expedite corruption cases, highlighting the importance of timely justice in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
