The Ministry of Humanitarian and Social Inclusion is embroiled in an ongoing fraud investigation, and the latest revelations have sent shockwaves.
Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently stumbled upon a previously undisclosed fraud amounting to N17 billion linked to the ministry.
Originally focused on an alleged N585 million fraud that led to the suspension of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, the EFCC investigators were taken aback by the magnitude of the newly discovered cases.
Recall that Edu has been interrogated regarding the findings. The investigation also extends to matters involving the former minister during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk, and the suspended Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajia Halima Shehu.
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Interestingly, Shehu has been cooperative with investigators, leading to the recovery of N30 billion out of the N37 billion traced to Umar-Farouk.
Despite spirited efforts by certain forces to hinder the investigation, President Bola Tinubu has reportedly assured his inner circle that he will not interfere with the EFCC probe.
A source in the know said:
“The commission was surprised to uncover some previously unreported cases of fraud linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The amount for now stands at N17billion.
“You will recall that what was reportedly linked to the suspended minister was N585 million, now the figure has risen and the investigators are closing in on the matter.”
