The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC has not cleared anyone involved in the ongoing probe of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation according to ,Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s spokesman.
Oyewale who made this known while speaking to journalists on Sunday said it was compelled to clarify this in view of the rising tide of commentaries, opinions and assumptions into the alleged fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
He said that investigations which are currently ongoing into the alleged fraud in the Ministry have yielded recovery of N30bn adding that the Agency is probing a systemic and “intricate web of fraudulent practices” involving past and present officials of the ministry and banks.
Oyewale said that the recovered sum was part of the COVID-19 funds, the World Bank loan and Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by the Federal Government for poverty alleviation.
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Speaking further he said that no official of the Humanitarian ministry, undergoing the Commission’s investigation has been cleared .
“The EFCC has noticed the rising tide of commentaries, opinions, assumptions and insinuations concerning its progressive investigations into the alleged financial misappropriation in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“At the outset of investigations, past and suspended officials of the Humanitarian Ministry were invited by the Commission and investigations into the alleged fraud involving them have yielded the recovery of N32.7billion and $445,000 so far.
“Discreet investigations by the EFCC have opened other fraudulent dealings involving Covid -19 funds, the World Bank loan, Abacha recovered loot released to the Ministry by the Federal Government to execute its poverty alleviation mandate.
“Investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance. It is instructive to stress that the Commission’s investigations are not about individuals.
“The EFCC is investigating a system and intricate web of fraudulent practices. Banks involved in the alleged fraud are being investigated. Managing Directors of the indicted banks have made useful statements to investigators digging into the infractions.
“Additionally, the EFCC has not cleared anyone allegedly involved in the fraud. Investigations are ongoing and advancing steadily. The public is enjoined to ignore any claim to the contrary,” Oyewale said.
