EFCC Quizzes Accountant-general Over Scandals In Humanitarian Affairs Ministry

Oluwatoyin Madein

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, was quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 16, over the alleged fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

She was quizzed by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the suspicious movement of cash from the ministry to bank accounts linked to private individuals as well as to clarify the alleged withdrawal of N3 billion from a COVID 19 dedicated account for some projects by the same ministry.

A source at the anti-graft agency who spoke to The Nation, said EFCC investigators have uncovered new dimensions in the ongoing probe of the suspended Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development Minister Dr. Betta Edu, her predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouq and the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

According to the source, the AGF was on Monday, January 15, after interrogation, directed to produce some documents.

“Our team has asked her to explain in details on the modus operandi of managing request and disbursement of funds to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. She was also asked to make relevant letters, circulars and directives available to investigators. And since payment of funds into private accounts by the ministry predated the coming of the suspended minister, the EFCC wanted to know the circumstances which warranted such.

More interesting aspect was the discovery of the withdrawal of N3 billion from COVID-19 Account through the Office of the AGF to fund some activities of the ministry.”

Responding to a question, the source added;

“The OAGF is central to the management of funds. This was why we have invited her. We have asked her to be on standby because we may engage her intermittently in the next one or two weeks.”

Another source, who also spoke in confidence, said;

“The AGF was invited because she issued a statement at a stage which indicated that she knew more than what she told the public. It is natural for the EFCC to pick her up on a few issues in the statement to help our investigation. Her coming has been helpful. We will need to interact more with her.”