The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened money laundering cases against former governors and ministers. The antigraft agency disclosed that the renewed investigations encompass alleged misappropriation of public funds ranging from arms procurement to various forms of diversions. The estimated sum under investigation exceeds N853.8bn. According to sources within the commission, the Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is revisiting these high-profile cases due to the vow he took upon taking office - "reviewing all high-profile cases, and also to tackle corruption regardless of suspects’ social or political status".
The commission, currently investigating the N81.6bn that was allegedly looted in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, disclosed that the amount at stake in the high-profile cases involving the former governors and ex-ministers was to the tune of N772.2bn.
As disclosed by the commission, $2.2bn meant for arms procurement in support of the war against terrorism and insurgency, was alleged to have gone missing through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation in recent times. The personnel involved former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; and former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda.
It can be recalled that Dasuki was in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2015, while the EFCC arrested Dokpesi, Bafarawa, Yuguda, and others.
Other high-profile cases that will be revisited include but are not limited to the following:
Bello Matawalle, currently a serving Minister, will be investigated for alleged N70bn money laundering, with contractors reportedly making “startling revelations” about returning funds to him.
Kayode Fayemi, who served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet from November 11, 2015, to May 30, 2018, before resigning to contest the governorship election for his second term, is being Probed for an alleged N4bn fraud as Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
Ayo Fayose, a two-term governor of Ekiti State, is under investigation for an alleged N6.9bn fraud during his governorship.
Chimaroke Nnamani is being probed for an alleged N5.3bn fraud.
Sullivan Chime is being investigated over an alleged N450m campaign fraud as part of the N23bn allegedly shared by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Theodore Orji, probed for alleged N551bn money laundering.
Diezani, is a subject to multiple investigations into multi-billion naira and million-dollar money laundering allegations.
Abdullahi Adamu is under probe for alleged N15bn fraud.
Rabiu Kwankwaso is being probed for alleged non-remittance of N10bn pension fund;
Danjuma Goje is being probed by the commission for an alleged N5bn fraud; Wammako is being investigated for allegedly diverting N15bn; Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum under Buhari, is under probe for alleged N19.2bn money laundering; while Lamido is being investigated over an alleged N1.35bn fraud.
The EFCC had also recently commenced the probe of some former ministers, Olu Agunloye (power, mines and steel), Olu Agunloye, over an alleged $6bn fraud on the Mambilla Power Project; and Sadiya Umar-Farouk (humanitarian affairs), over an alleged N37.1bn fraud.
Agunloye and Umar-Farouq served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, respectively.
Aside from government officials, the commission was also probing the chief executive officers of several banks, civil servants, and contractors in connection with the humongous fraud uncovered in the ministry.
