EFCC hands over recovered N279m to Wole Soyinka Centre 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has handed over N279 million recovered from a contractor to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts as part of its ongoing efforts to return misappropriated public funds to government institutions.

The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi, where officials of the anti-graft agency formally presented the recovered funds to representatives of the centre, formerly known as the National Theatre.

The funds were recovered following investigations into a contract awarded for construction and land reclamation works at the National Theatre.

According to the EFCC, the case dates back to 2009 when the commission received a petition from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, alleging contract irregularities involving  Benjamin Apugo and other parties.

The petition alleged that a contract valued at N299,707,828 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the theatre complex.

Investigations by the EFCC later revealed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, released a total of N334,229,794.24 to the contractor.

The amount exceeded the original contract value by N34,521,966.

Further findings showed that the contractor only carried out work valued at N55,910,744, leaving an outstanding balance of N243,799,132 worth of unexecuted work.

The EFCC said the excess payment of N34,521,966 was also not refunded.

Following the investigation, the suspect was charged to court for prosecution.

During the course of the trial, the sum of N279 million was eventually recovered from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the EFCC,  represented by Bawa Usman Kaltungo, Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2,  reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that public funds are properly recovered and returned to the institutions they belong to.

Olukoyede warned the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure the recovered money is used strictly for its intended purpose.

“We cannot suffer to recover this money for you and then have it used for purposes other than what it is meant for after receiving it from us,” he said.

He disclosed that the commission had already requested details of how the funds would be utilised and would continue to monitor the process closely.

“Nigerians have always sought to know what the Commission does with recovered funds,” he added.

The EFCC chairman further revealed that the commission would periodically inspect the projects funded with the recovered money to ensure accountability.

“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of work.

“Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria and all of us”, he said.

Receiving the bank drafts on behalf of the centre, Jatto Kabiru, Head of Finance and Accounts of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for recovering the funds.

He described the recovery as a significant step in ensuring accountability in public institutions.

“We are most grateful for this remarkable feat of recovering this amount of money for us.

“The EFCC is one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable law enforcement agencies. I assure you that the money will be used judiciously”, Kabiru said.