Several high-profile individuals, including Kwakwanso, Orji, and Odili,
are currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) for alleged financial misconduct. Kwakwanso is being probed for the alleged
non-remittance of N10bn pension funds, Orji for alleged N551bn money laundering,
and Odili for an alleged N100bn fraud. The handling of the probe against the
ex-Rivers State governor, Odili, remains uncertain due to a perpetual injunction
obtained in March 2008, which has not been vacated.
Goje is facing investigation for an alleged N5bn fraud, Wammako for allegedly
diverting N15bn, Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum under President
Buhari, for an alleged N19.2bn money laundering, and Lamido for an alleged N1.35bn
fraud. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is reportedly reviewing all high-profile
cases and has directed investigators not to treat anyone differently, especially
politically exposed persons indicted for money laundering.
Diezani, a former Minister of Petroleum, is also under investigation for several
alleged money laundering cases involving billions of naira and millions of dollars.
Sources indicate that the EFCC is actively pursuing these cases without bias, and
investigators have been reappointed to handle the probes. Recently, the EFCC
commenced a probe into former ministers Olu Agunloye and Sadiya Umar-Farouk
for alleged fraud on the Mambilla Power Project and N37.1bn, respectively.
The commission is also investigating suspended Minister Betta Edu and the
Coordinator of the suspended National Social Investment Programme Agency,
Halima Shehu, over an alleged N81.6bn fraud uncovered in the ministry.
-26 September 2024
