Betta Edu/Halima Shehu: EFCC Recovers N30bn, Probes 50 Bank Accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered N30 billion for the Federal Government and initiated investigations into 50 bank accounts, including those of the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and the former CEO of the now-suspended National Social Investment Programme Authority (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

Both Edu and Shehu were suspended approximately three months ago by President Bola Tinubu due to allegations of financial misconduct. Subsequently, the President suspended the Social Investment Programme and tasked the EFCC with investigating both embattled officials and anyone else involved.

Three months later, Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, revealed that the anti-graft agency was advancing in its investigation, highlighting the complexity of the case and urging Nigerians to remain patient.

Olukoyede addressed the March edition of the commission’s monthly e-magazine, EFCCAlert, which was obtained on Monday.

“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.

“Moreover, with respect to this particular case, we have recovered over N30 billion, which is already in the coffers of the Federal Government. It takes time to conclude investigations; we started this matter less than six weeks ago. There are cases that take years to investigate. There are so many angles to it. And we

need to follow through with some of the discoveries that we have seen. Nigerians should give us time on this matter; we have professionals on this case and they need to do things right. There are so many leads here and there.

“As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into. That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal.

“Then you ask about my staff strength. And again, we have thousands of other cases that we are working on.

“Nigerians have seen the impact of what we have done so far, by way of some people being placed on suspension and by way of the recoveries that we have made. You have seen that the programme itself has been suspended.

“We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation. If it is about seeing people in jail, well let them wait, everything has a process to follow. So Nigerians should wait and give us the benefit of the doubt,” Olukoyede stated.

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