Diezani and Former Ministers Also Under Scrutiny as Agency Vows No Leniency for Politically Exposed Persons
In a major move against corruption, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened money laundering cases involving 13 former governors and several ex-ministers. The total amounts under investigation are staggering, reaching over N853.8 billion.
Initial findings by Sunday Findwhosabi indicate that the high-profile cases against the former governors and ministers involve no less than N772.2 billion. The EFCC is currently delving into the alleged misappropriation of N81.6 billion in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Additionally, recent revelations point to $2.2 billion disappearing through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation. The funds were allegedly diverted by figures such as former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, and former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda.
The EFCC claims that this $2.2 billion was originally intended for arms procurement in support of the fight against terrorism but was instead laundered, diverted, and misappropriated. Several arrests were made in connection to the case, with individuals indicted by a presidential committee that investigated arms procurement under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Among those under investigation are two former Ekiti State governors, Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose; former Zamfara State governor Bello Matawalle; two former Enugu State governors, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime; former Nasarawa State governor Abdullahi Adamu; former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others.
The EFCC is also scrutinizing figures like Matawalle, who currently serves as the Minister of Defence under President Bola Tinubu, for alleged N70 billion money laundering. Fayemi is being investigated for an alleged N4 billion fraud, while Fayose faces allegations of a N6.9 billion fraud.
Other prominent figures facing probes include Nnamani, Chime, Adamu, Kwankwaso, Peter Odili, Theodore Orji, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wamako, Timipre Sylva, Sule Lamido, and former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Sources reveal that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is personally reviewing all high-profile cases. He has directed investigators not to treat anyone differently, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to hold all politically exposed persons accountable.
In addition to governors and ministers, the EFCC has also commenced investigations into former ministers Olu Agunloye and Sadiya Umar-Farouk over alleged fraud on the Mambilla Power Project and a N37.1 billion fraud, respectively.
The commission is leaving no stone unturned, extending its probes to include CEOs of banks, civil servants, and contractors linked to the massive fraud uncovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
EFCC Chairman Olukoyede has affirmed that all high-profile cases will be reviewed and revisited, making it clear that corruption cases involving former or current public officials will not be overlooked or abandoned by the commission.