Former Ministers, Ex-Governors Under Investigation After Anti-Graft Agency Recovers N27B, $19M

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation of former governors and ex-ministers after recovering a combined sum of N27 billion and $19 million from three money laundering cases.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale on Wednesday spoke about how the anti-graft agency had seized many houses in Lagos, Cross River states and Federal Capital Territory.

"In three different cases, the commission has recovered N27,184,357,524.52 and $19,084,419.33. While ongoing recovery is being made, the commission's works are progressing in line with our mandate as prevention initiatives, risk assessments, and recovery efforts are being intensified," he said, speaking on behalf of the EFCC acting chairman, Abdulkarim Chukkol, in Lagos, Punch reported.

Oyewale shared that the EFCC has received petitions against several public officials, former governors, ex-ministers, and ministry officials, adding that investigations were ongoing on those petitions.

He noted that details of these public officials' involvement in the money laundering cases will be made public soon.

"Investigations are ongoing in respect of monumental fraud involving some officials of the Federal Ministry of Power and Agriculture; procurement fraud actually," Oyewale added.

"Funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Power projects are diverted through sundry Bureau de Change operators. For now, several houses purchased with the funds are being recovered. The houses are in Abuja, Lagos, and Cross River States," he concluded.

Last month, EFCC had also questioned former Power and Steel minister, Olu Agunloye, about an alleged $6 billion Build, Operate, and Transfer contract.

EFCC's Chukkol urged all Nigerians to be focused and committed to the war against economic and financial crimes on X on Wednesday.

"Fighting corruption is not for the EFCC alone because no matter what we do on our own, we can't win this war without the buying in of the people, and young people like you," he said. "You have a role to play in this exercise."

Chukkol added, "One of our former Chairmen said that one of the most important stakeholders that we have in fighting corruption are the citizens, and you are all citizens, as you have a great role to play in this fight."

The government agency, founded in 2003 and responsible for investigating financial crimes in Nigeria, had arrested 13 Chinese nationals for illegal mining in Ilorin, Kwara State in July. In June, the agency called former Federal Minister of Aviation of Nigeria, Hadi Sirika for questioning regarding the controversial airline Nigeria Air, which has cost the country N3 billion.