To clear misconceptions and misrepresentations of its report on the recovery of N30 billion, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has given more details on its investigation of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Poverty Alleviation.
The commission said yesterday that the funds were recovered from thorough investigations into the ministry for a long time.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the commission said the investigation had led to the recovery of N32.7 billion and $445,000 so far.
Oyewale said the EFCC has “noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“At the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the ministry were invited by the commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7 billion and $445,000 so far.
“Discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving COVID-19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot released to the ministry by the federal government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate. Investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance”, he said.
The EFCC also said the investigation did not focus on individuals but on the ministry as a whole.
