EFCC Resurrects Allegations: 13 Former Governors Face N772 Billion Fraud Charges

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resumed investigations into money laundering cases involving 13 former governors and some ex-ministers, with the total amount in question exceeding N853.8 billion. Initial estimates suggested the involvement of at least N772.2 billion….CONTINUE READING

but ongoing probes now include an additional N81.6 billion allegedly misappropriated in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Among the prominent cases, a sum of $2.2 billion is alleged to have been diverted through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation, implicating figures like 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 funds, originally designated for arms procurement to support the fight against terrorism, were reportedly laundered and diverted.

The investigations date back to 2015 when the EFCC, during Dasuki’s detention by the Department of State Services, arrested Dokpesi, Bafarawa, Yuguda, and others.

Indicted by a presidential committee investigating arms procurement under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, approximately $2.2 billion was allegedly diverted for purposes unrelated to arms acquisition.

The list of individuals under scrutiny includes former governors Kayode Fayemi, Ayo Fayose, Bello Matawalle, Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, Abdullahi Adamu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Odili, Theodore Orji, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wamako, Timipre Sylva, and Sule Lamido.

Current Minister of Defence Bello Matawalle faces allegations of N70 billion money laundering, while ex-Minister of Solid Minerals Development Kayode Fayemi is being investigated for an alleged N4 billion fraud. Fayose, the former Ekiti State governor, is subject to an inquiry into an alleged N6.9 billion fraud.

The EFCC is also probing Nnamani for an alleged N5.3 billion fraud, Chime for an alleged N450 million campaign fraud, Adamu for an alleged N15 billion fraud, Kwankwaso for alleged non-remittance of N10 billion pension fund, Orji for an alleged N551 billion money laundering, and Odili for an alleged N100 billion fraud.

Other cases include Goje (alleged N5 billion fraud), Wammako (alleged diversion of N15 billion), Sylva (alleged N19.2 billion money laundering), and Lamido (alleged N1.35 billion fraud).

The EFCC, under Chairman Ola Olukoyede, is reviewing all high-profile cases without bias, emphasizing that no one, regardless of their social or political standing, will receive preferential treatment. Recent investigations also extend to former ministers Olu Agunloye and Sadiya Umar-Farouk, with allegations of $6 billion fraud on the Mambilla Power Project and N37.1 billion fraud, respectively.

Olukoyede emphasized the commitment to revisit and pursue corruption cases involving indicted public officials, demonstrating that no one is above the law.

The EFCC is also scrutinizing the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, over an alleged N81.6 billion fraud in the ministry.

The commission is conducting parallel probes into the CEOs of various banks, civil servants, and contractors linked to the massive fraud.