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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-Nigeria) have praised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its recent recovery of N30 billion in the investigation of suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
President Bola Tinubu had on January 8, suspended Edu and directed the EFCC “to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction” involving her ministry.
The social investment programmes comprising the N-Power programme, conditional cash transfer programme, government enterprise and empowerment programme, and homegrown school feeding programme were put on hold after the suspension of the minister.
In an update contained in a bulletin titled “EFCC Alert”, EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede was quoted as saying that the commission was also investigating 50 bank accounts, adding that the N30 billion recovered is in the coffers of the federal government.
“We have laws and regulations guiding our investigations. Nigerians will also know that they are already on suspension and this is based on the investigations we have done, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved to Nigerians that he is ready to fight corruption.”
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organization expressed its admiration for the EFCC’s commitment to combatting corruption, particularly within government ministries entrusted with poverty alleviation.
Rafsanjani stressed the importance of the recovery, stating that it is crucial to hold accountable those entrusted with public funds.
He noted that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which should be focused on alleviating poverty, has instead become a breeding ground for embezzlement.
The statement comes as Nigeria grapples with alarming poverty statistics, with approximately 104 million citizens living below the poverty line, according to World Bank data.
Rafsanjani lamented the detrimental impact of corruption on the nation’s development, urging for intensified efforts to recover stolen assets and prosecute those responsible.
“With poverty rates soaring and resources being misappropriated, it is imperative that the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies continue to pursue justice and ensure that looted funds are recovered and accounted for,” Rafsanjani said.
The CISLAC boss further called for the promotion of the rule of law and transparency in anti-corruption efforts, emphasizing the crucial role of accountability in combating graft effectively.
“In reaffirming our support for the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), we urge these agencies to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in their operations,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC/TI-Nigeria concluded by urging all stakeholders to join hands in the fight against corruption and to support the efforts of law enforcement agencies in upholding the rule of law and integrity in governance.
