UPDATE: EFCC Unveils Fresh N17 Billion Fraud Scandal at Ministry of Humanitarian and Social Inclusion

Recent investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have revealed another shocking fraud scandal amounting to N17 billion linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian and Social Inclusion.

This revelation comes amidst the ongoing probe into alleged fraudulent activities within the ministry.

According to sources familiar with the matter, EFCC officials, initially looking into a reported fraud of N585 million which led to the suspension of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, were astounded to uncover additional fraudulent cases totaling N17 billion.

The investigators have been diligently pursuing leads and have already interrogated the suspended minister regarding these new findings.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Banker, POS Cashier For Currency Racketeering.

A source close to the investigation told TRIBUNE, “The commission was surprised to uncover some previously unreported cases of fraud linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The amount for now stands at N17billion. You will recall that what was reportedly linked to the suspended minister was N585 million, now the figure has risen and the investigators are closing in on the matter.”

Furthermore, investigations are ongoing regarding matters involving former minister Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk and the suspended Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Hajia Halima Shehu.

It has been disclosed that Shehu has been cooperating with investigators, leading to the recovery of N30 billion out of the N37 billion traced to Umar-Farouk. Shehu reportedly explained to investigators that she took preemptive measures to safeguard the funds from being misappropriated by certain individuals.