The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed a financial scandal involving the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, with a staggering sum of N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered during the tenure of former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
According to exclusive details obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the ongoing investigation reveals that the funds were transferred from the Federal Government’s accounts to 38 different bank accounts linked to contractor James Okwete. The transactions reportedly took place between 2018 and 2023.
James Okwete, the alleged mastermind, is said to have transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change operators, withdrawn N540,000,000.00 in cash, acquired luxury cars amounting to N288,348,600.00, and purchased high-end properties in Abuja and Enugu State, totaling N2,195,115,000.00.
Furthermore, Okwete is linked to 53 companies, with 47 of them used to secure Federal Government contracts worth N27,423,824,339.86. The investigation also discovered 143 bank accounts associated with Okwete across 12 commercial banks.
Former Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk, who served as the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, has been implicated in the scandal. Umar-Farouk, appointed in July 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, has a longstanding association with Buhari dating back to his leadership of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change.
This revelation comes in the wake of previous financial controversies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s discovery of N2.67bn meant for the ministry’s school feeding program in private bank accounts in 2020. The former ICPC Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, revealed the misallocation of funds during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for transparency, urging the immediate publication of details and names of suspects. Despite these calls, the former minister has not disclosed the identities of those involved.
The EFCC, when contacted, offered no official confirmation or denial of the unfolding events. Civil society organizations and legal experts are now calling for a comprehensive probe into the Buhari administration, citing a need for accountability and justice in the face of alleged corruption.