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EFCC Launches Investigation Into Alleged N772bn Fraud Involving 13 Ex-Governors
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has initiated a fresh probe into alleged money laundering cases involving 13 former governors and several ex-ministers.
The total amount involved in these high-profile cases is estimated to be over N772bn.
The investigation also includes the alleged misappropriation of N81.6bn in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
In addition, an amount of $2.2bn is said to have been diverted through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation.
This amount is alleged to have been embezzled by notable personalities such as former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, media mogul Raymond Dokpesi, former governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa, and former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda, among others.
The funds were originally intended for arms procurement to support the fight against terrorism but were instead laundered and misused.
According to PUNCH, the EFCC has taken action against these individuals after they were indicted by a presidential committee that investigated arms procurement during the previous administration.
The list of individuals under investigation includes former governors from various states such as Ekiti, Zamfara, Enugu, Nasarawa, Kano, Rivers, Abia, Gombe, Sokoto, Bayelsa, and Jigawa. The investigation also involves two former ministers.
According to the report, EFCC spokesman had expressed the commitment of the anti-graft agency to reviewing and revisiting all high-profile cases, ensuring that no one is above the law.
Specifically, the chairman of the EFCC has instructed investigators to treat all individuals equally, regardless of their social or political status, one source quoted said.
Furthermore, the EFCC has recently initiated investigations into former ministers Olu Agunloye and Sadiya Umar-Farouk over alleged fraud in the Mambilla Power Project and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, respectively.
The commission is also probing the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the coordinator of the suspended National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, over alleged fraud in the ministry.
The EFCC has assured the public that it will not overlook or abandon corruption cases involving former or current public officials. The commission is determined to ensure that justice is served and that no case is swept under the carpet, the newspaper quoted acting spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujeren.