The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed details of the N37 billion ($90 million) it has recovered from the controversial humanitarian affairs ministry in Nigeria.

The anti-corruption agency said it traced at least N30 billion ($73 million) to the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who allegedly diverted the funds meant for humanitarian assistance and social development.

The EFCC also said it recovered more than N17 billion ($41 million) from the suspended minister, Betta Edu, who was accused of misappropriating N585 million ($1.4 million) from the ministry’s budget.

The EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, told reporters on Monday that the agency was able to recover the money by placing a lien on the bank accounts linked to the former and suspended ministers.

He said the investigation was still ongoing and more arrests and recoveries were expected.

How the scandal unfolded

The Humanitarian Affairs Ministry was created in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the government’s response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of the country.

The ministry was also tasked with implementing the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which provides cash transfers, school feeding, and job creation schemes to millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

However, the ministry soon became mired in allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and nepotism.

In October 2020, the House of Representatives launched a probe into the spending of N1.7 trillion ($4.1 billion) by the ministry in one year.

The lawmakers accused the former minister, Umar-Farouq, of awarding contracts to cronies and relatives, inflating the number of beneficiaries of the NSIP, and failing to account for the funds disbursed.

Umar-Farouq denied the allegations and said she was ready to cooperate with the investigation.

In December 2020, President Buhari sacked Umar-Farouq and appointed Edu, a former health commissioner in Cross River state, as the new minister.

However, Edu’s tenure was short-lived as she was suspended in February 2021 after the EFCC arrested her for allegedly transferring N585 million ($1.4 million) from the ministry’s account to a private company owned by her husband.

Edu claimed she was innocent and said the money was meant for a COVID-19 palliative program.

The impact of the scandal

The scandal has raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry and its impact on the lives of millions of Nigerians who depend on its services.

According to the United Nations, Nigeria is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than 10 million people in need of assistance and protection.

The Boko Haram insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than two million from their homes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also worsened the situation, as the country has recorded over 200,000 cases and 2,600 deaths, and suffered a severe economic recession.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage and disappointment over the alleged embezzlement of funds meant for the poor and vulnerable by the ministry’s officials.

They have called for justice and accountability and urged the government to reform the ministry and ensure that the funds are used for their intended purposes.

Despite the scandal, some Nigerians have expressed hope that the EFCC’s investigation and recovery of the stolen funds will serve as a deterrent to other corrupt officials and a boost to the anti-graft campaign.

They have also commended the efforts of some civil society groups and whistleblowers who exposed the fraud and alerted the authorities.

Source: Vanguard