The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dug up a total of N37,170,855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under Sadiya Farouq.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Farouq the pioneer minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development in July 2019.
PUNCH reports on Sunday that a probe by the EFCC revealed that the said amount of money was transferred from the Federal Government to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five commercial banks belonging to or connected with a contractor, James Okwete.
Fifty-three companies were allegedly traced to Okwete, who was also said to have used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. He is also linked with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.
Records in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) show Okwete is a director in 11 of the 53 companies while he is a signatory to the accounts of the remaining firms.
After receiving N37 billion from the government, Okwete, according to an EFCC document, allegedly transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to bureau de change operators, withdrew N540,000,000.00 in cash, purchased luxury cars with N288,348,600.00, and bought luxury houses in Abuja and Enugu State with N2,195,115,000.00.
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The EFCC document revealed, “Between 2018 and 2023, the subject (Okwete) received the sum of N37,170,855,753.44 from the coffers of the Federal Government linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“The monies were sent to 38 bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, N540,000,000.00 withdrawn in cash, N288,348,600.00 used to purchase cars, and used N2,195,115,000.00 to purchase choice properties within Abuja and Enugu State.
“Fifty-three companies were traced to the suspect. He used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. Okwete is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 of the 143 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.”
In 2020, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it uncovered N2.67 billion meant for the ministry’s school feeding programme in private bank accounts, an allegation Farouq denied.
Spokesperson for the EFCC Dele Oyewale did not confirm or deny the story when reached for comments.
“No comments on that,” he was quoted as saying.
It was not immediately clear if Farouq was contacted for comments.
