The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly uncovered N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
Umar-Farouk was in the cabinet of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Sunday PUNCH reports that details of the ongoing probe it exclusively obtained revealed that the money was transferred from the Federal Government’s accounts and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with a contractor identified as James Okwete.
It was reported that following receipt of the funds, Okwete allegedly transferred N6,746,034,000 to Bureau De Change operators, withdrew N540,000,000 in cash, purchased luxury cars with N288,348,600, and bought luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.
The details of the probe further revealed that 53 companies were allegedly traced to Okwete who was also said to have used 47 of the companies to lift Nigerian Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86.
Okwete is also linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks of which 134 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.
Sunday PUNCH further reports that checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed that Okwete is a director in only 11 of the 53 companies, while the remaining 42 companies’ accounts are only linked to his Bank Verification Number as a signatory to the accounts.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs currently serves as the parent ministry to eight agencies, including the National Social Investment Office, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internationally Displaced Persons, among others.
Umar-Farouq was the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under former President Buhari following her appointment in July 2019 as the youngest cabinet member of Buhari.
The EFCC document reportedly revealed: “Between 2018 and 2023, the subject (Okwete) received the sum of N37,170,855,753.44 from the coffers of the Federal Government linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“The monies were sent to 38 bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, N540,000,000.00 withdrawn in cash, N288,348,600.00 used to purchase cars, and used N2,195,115,000.00 to purchase choice properties within Abuja and Enugu State.
“Fifty-three companies were traced to the suspect. He used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. Okwete is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 of the 143 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.”
In 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it uncovered N2.67 billion meant for the humanitarian affairs ministry’s school feeding programme in private bank accounts.
The former ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed that the commission unravelled N2.67 billion in personal accounts, being payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Other discoveries by the ICPC include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land. Owasanoye said under the Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January and August 15, 2020, of the 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas, 72 had cumulative infractions of N90m.
The former ICPC chairman maintained that the money was paid when children were not in school.
But despite requests by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to Umar-Farouq to publish details and names of the suspects, the former minister failed to reveal their names.
