The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened money laundering cases involving 13 former governors and several ex-ministers, with a total amount exceeding N853.8bn. While investigations are ongoing on N81.6bn allegedly misappropriated in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, another development points to $2.2bn lost through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation. Individuals implicated in the diversion include former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, the late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, and former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda.
The EFCC claims the diverted funds, initially earmarked for arms procurement in the fight against terrorism, were laundered and misused. Notable figures under investigation include former Ekiti State governors Kayode Fayemi and Ayo Fayose, former Zamfara State governor Bello Matawalle, former Enugu State governors Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime, and others. Matawalle, currently serving as Minister of Defence, faces alleged N70bn money laundering charges, while Fayemi is investigated for an alleged N4bn fraud and Fayose for an alleged N6.9bn fraud.
The EFCC, under the leadership of Chairman Ola Olukoyede, is revisiting and reviewing high-profile cases, reappointing investigators to ensure impartiality. The commission has recently initiated probes into former ministers Olu Agunloye and Sadiya Umar-Farouk, over alleged $6bn and N37.1bn fraud, respectively. Olukoyede emphasized that no case, particularly those involving corruption by public officials, would be overlooked or abandoned.
