Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate the alleged diversion of N33.75 billion meant for cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana urged the EFCC to work with the Auditor-General for the Federation to recover the funds and prosecute public officials found culpable.
The call followed a disclosure by the Auditor-General, Shaakaa Chira, that the Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence that N33.75 billion in cash transfers intended for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households reached genuine beneficiaries.
The disclosure was contained in the Auditor-General’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs.
Falana said the development raised serious concerns about the management of poverty alleviation funds.
“The EFCC should embark on an immediate investigation of the serious allegation of the criminal diversion of the sum of N33.75 billion in cash transfers earmarked for poor and vulnerable people,” he said.
The SAN noted that NSIPA was established under the 2022 Act to manage programmes including N-Power, School Feeding and Cash Transfer.
He recalled that former Minister Sadiya Farouq was previously investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.
