EFCC Uncovers N37bn Fraud In Humanitarian Ministry, Indicts Buhari’s minister, Contractor

EFCC Uncovers N37bn Fraud In Humanitarian Ministry, Indicts Buhari’s minister, Contractor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly uncovered an alleged money laundering scheme amounting to N37,170,855,753.44 within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs during the tenure of former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

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Details of the ongoing investigation, exclusively obtained by Sunday PUNCH, revealed that the funds were transferred from the Federal Government’s accounts to 38 different bank accounts in five legacy commercial banks associated with a contractor named James Okwete.

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Upon receiving the funds, Okwete purportedly engaged in various transactions, including transferring N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, withdrawing N540,000,000.00 in cash, purchasing luxury cars worth N288,348,600.00, and acquiring luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.

Allegedly, Okwete is associated with 53 companies, utilizing 47 of them to secure Federal Government contracts totaling N27,423,824,339.86. Additionally, he is linked with 143 bank accounts across 12 commercial banks, where 134 accounts are corporate accounts tied to various companies.

Corporate Affairs Commission records show that Okwete is a director in only 11 of the 53 companies, while the remaining 42 companies’ accounts are connected to his Bank Verification Number as a signatory.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, under which the alleged malfeasance occurred, oversees eight agencies, including the National Social Investment Office and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internationally Displaced Persons.

Sadiya Umar-Farouk, the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019. She has a longstanding association with President Buhari, dating back to their time in the Congress for Progressive Change, where she served as the national treasurer. She later became the national treasurer of the All Progressives Congress before being appointed as a minister in 2019.

The EFCC document revealed, “Between 2018 and 2023, the subject (Okwete) received the sum of N37,170,855,753.44 from the coffers of the Federal Government linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“The monies were sent to 38 bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, N540,000,000.00 withdrawn in cash, N288,348,600.00 used to purchase cars, and used N2,195,115,000.00 to purchase choice properties within Abuja and Enugu State.

“Fifty-three companies were traced to the suspect. He used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. Okwete is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 of the 143 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.”

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