EFCC Says It Has Not Clear Anybody in the Ongoing Probe of Alleged Fraud in Humanitarian Ministry

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified that it is yet to clear any of the officials being investigated over the alleged multi-billon fraud in the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.

The agency, however, said it had linked the suspended minister, Dr. Betta Edu and the chief execute officer of the national social investment program authority, Halima Sheu to some of the alleged fraudulent deals.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, said both officials would be prosecuted if found culpable.

Oyewale said the investigations were also extended to banks, and some banks managing directors are making useful statements to the EFCC on the alleged fraud.

EFCC also said its operatives had discovered other frauds, involving Covid 19 fund, the World Bank loans and Abacha loot recovered fund in the ministry, which were disbursed by the federal government to the ministry to fight poverty.

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Oyewole said EFCC had so far recovered $445,000 and N32.7 billion from the latest fraud.

President Tinubu had suspended both Betta Edu and Halima Sheu in January, ahead of the EFCC investigations.

After months of investigations into the malfeasance by the anti-graft agency without no information officially disclosed to the public about its outcome, speculations became rife that Ms Edu and Ms Farouq might have been cleared or the matter swept under the carpet.

Both have also separately claimed through their lawyers that the commission has found nothing against them.

The latest of such endeavours was a letter by Ms Edu’s lawyer to the BBC, insisting on her innocence and warning against defaming her.