Report has emerged that Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, stood in the way of government officials who contrived plot to steal N50bn from the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.
It said at the twilight of Muhammadu Buhari’s regime with Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk as minister of the ministry, some theiving government officials were stopped in their tracks to perpetrate the N50bn fraud.
The report by Punchng said the money was meant for vulnerable citizens but the pertrators were about to embezzle it between July and August 2023 by paying it into private accounts but for the ICPC under its former Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye that discovered the strange movement and raised concerns.
“The funds were recovered when former President Muhammadu Buhari and Umar-Farouq were leaving office and President Tinubu had yet to appoint a new humanitarian affairs minister.
“President Tinubu, upon the appointment of the now suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation to refund the money to the ministry as part of the Infrastructure Support Fund for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
“The refunded sum is part of the N44bn allegedly laundered in the National Social Investment Programme Agency and the N585m Edu authorised for disbursement,” the publication quoted the unnamed source as saying.
