USAID Funds Scandal: EFCC, FBI Move To Trace Alleged Diversion In Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in investigating the alleged diversion and misuse of funds provided under United States Government-supported programmes in Nigeria.

The two agencies also resolved to intensify intelligence sharing and jointly track the movement of the funds to determine how they were utilised.

According to Ireporter Online, the agreement was reached on Thursday, September 10, 2026, when FBI Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché, Macus Maccain, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC.

The delegation was received by the Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.

Speaking during the meeting, Maccain said the FBI was seeking closer cooperation with the EFCC over alleged financial irregularities involving organisations that received funds under programmes supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

He said the investigation would focus largely on programmes related to HIV and tuberculosis interventions, following the shutdown of some USAID-supported programmes by the United States Government in 2025.

According to Maccain, the termination of the programmes raised questions about funds that remained with some organisations responsible for implementing the projects.

He said some of the organisations were suspected of mismanaging or diverting funds received before the programmes were discontinued.

“We are seeking stronger engagement with the EFCC to establish how the funds were managed and identify possible financial misconduct arising from the termination of the programmes,” Maccain said.

Also speaking, Jeremy Kennon, a Special Agent with the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of State, said the US and Nigerian governments had previously entered into an agreement to support efforts to combat HIV and tuberculosis.

Kennon explained that funds were provided by the US Department of State and the Nigerian Government to organisations implementing the programmes, with some of the organisations establishing one-stop centres where patients could access HIV treatment.

However, he said subsequent reviews raised concerns over alleged inflated budgets and other financial irregularities in Kano State and some other parts of the country.

Kennon stressed that the concerns were not restricted to Kano or Nigeria, noting that similar issues had reportedly been identified in other parts of the world.

He said the FBI was interested in establishing a long-term working relationship with the EFCC to investigate the allegations and trace the funds.

“We’ll like to work with the EFCC on this on a long-term basis, and we’ll be sharing information with you; not just getting information from you,” Kennon said.

Responding, Kaltungo welcomed the FBI delegation on behalf of Olukoyede and described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as a longstanding one, particularly in the area of law enforcement.

He assured the delegation that the EFCC would investigate allegations of diversion or misuse of the USAID-linked funds across the country.

Kaltungo said the commission would trace the movement of the funds to their final beneficiaries to establish how they were spent and whether they were used for their intended purposes.

He added that investigators would determine whether any portion of the funds was mismanaged or allegedly diverted following the cancellation of the programmes.

The EFCC official further assured the FBI delegation that the investigation would be properly coordinated and extended to all states where the affected organisations and programmes operated.

He said the commission would work closely with the FBI to follow the financial trail and establish the facts surrounding the alleged diversion or misuse of the funds.