Where Are The Results? EFCC Yet To Expose Ex-Ministers’ Fraud After 15-Month Probe!

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has yet to conclude its investigations or release findings concerning alleged financial misconduct involving former Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouk and Betta Edu.

The investigation, which began 15 months ago, also encompasses the activities of Halima Shehu, former coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), and a contractor, James Okwete.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the EFCC confirmed that the probe is still ongoing, with no charges filed yet against any of the individuals implicated.

The probe focuses on the alleged mismanagement of over ₦30 billion, with both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) reportedly recovering large sums from 50 bank accounts connected to the ministry during the tenures of Umar-Farouk and Edu.

The controversy intensified after a leaked memo surfaced online, allegedly showing Betta Edu instructing the then Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer ₦585 million into a private individual’s account. The account holder, Oniyelu Bridget, was reportedly a Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups, though questions were raised over the legitimacy of the transfer.

Controversial Spending and Growing Public Outrage

Further scrutiny of Edu’s leadership emerged after documents showed her approving questionable expenditures, including airfares for trips to Kogi State — a state without an airport. These disclosures triggered widespread public anger and calls for accountability.

In response, President Bola Tinubu suspended Betta Edu on January 8, 2024. Prior to her suspension, Halima Shehu was also suspended over allegations of financial misappropriation, following Edu’s claims that billions of naira had gone missing under Shehu’s management. Shehu was subsequently arrested and interrogated by the EFCC regarding the movement of ₦44 billion from NSIPA accounts to private and corporate accounts in December 2023.

Former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk also faced EFCC questioning over allegations related to the management of ₦37.1 billion in social intervention funds during her time in office.

In light of the controversies, President Tinubu set up a panel headed by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to conduct a comprehensive review of the financial operations within the social investment programmes, aiming to reform and restructure the affected institutions. The suspended programmes include N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

Despite ongoing investigations, sources within the EFCC told Daily Trust that no formal charges have been prepared against the suspects. It was also revealed that Halima Shehu, formerly in charge of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, has been largely absent from EFCC interrogations following her bail conditions imposed in 2023.

An insider stated, “The case is intricate. Financial fraud is challenging to trace and must be handled meticulously. Some influential bankers are involved, and they have strong ties to powerful figures.”

Another EFCC source emphasized that the commission is determined to uncover the full truth but needs more time to avoid a weak court case.
“You can’t rush to court without concrete evidence; otherwise, the case risks being dismissed by the judge,” the source added.

Meanwhile, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that investigations are still in progress but declined to comment on when they would be completed.