Documents obtained from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have revealed that N37,170,855,753.44 was laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under Sadiya Umar-Farouk, who served in the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The PUNCH gained access to documents from the ongoing probe into how over N37 billion was transferred from the federal government to 38 different bank accounts connected with James Okwete, a contractor.

According to the documents, Okwete transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to bureau de change operators, withdrew N540,000,000.00 in cash, paid N288,348,600.00 for cars and used N2,195,115,000.00 to buy houses in Enugu State and Abuja.

READ ALSO: FLASHBACK: 3 Times Buhari Said He Approved Naira Redesign

The 38 bank accounts were anchored to five Nigerian commercial banks. Okwete was also linked to another 134 corporate bank accounts in 12 commercial banks.

Through his corporate accounts, Okwete had connections with 53 companies (as a director or signatory) of which he used 47 to get federal government contracts to the tune of N27,423,824,339.86.

“Between 2018 and 2023, the subject (Okwete) received the sum of N37,170,855,753.44 from the coffers of the Federal Government linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,” the documents read in part.

“The monies were sent to 38 bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks. The suspect transferred N6,746,034,000.00 to Bureau De Change Operators, N540,000,000.00 withdrawn in cash, N288,348,600.00 used to purchase cars, and used N2,195,115,000.00 to purchase choice properties within Abuja and Enugu State.

“Fifty-three companies were traced to the suspect. He used 47 of the companies to lift Federal Government contracts amounting to N27,423,824,339.86. Okwete is associated with 143 bank accounts in 12 commercial banks in which 134 of the 143 accounts are corporate accounts linked to different companies.”

READ ALSO: Tinubu Wants to Give Non-Existent Chief Economic Adviser N215.8m

President Buhari appointed Umar-Farouk as the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in 2019.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is responsible for agencies such as the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Senior Citizens Centre and the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities.

According to the EFCC probe, Okwete’s alleged money laundering took place in the ministry during Umar-Farouk’s tenure as minister. 

President Bola Tinubu appointed Betta Edu as the new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in August.