The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over N30bn from the N37,170, 855,753.44 allegedly laundered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs under the former minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

Sources at the anti-graft agency, said the commission had also uncovered over N500m from the ‘taken funds’ associated with Umar-Farouk’s successor, Betta Edu, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

It was gathered that N30bn was recovered by the EFCC following the placement of a lien on the bank accounts of Umar-Farouq and Okwete, who are still being grilled by the anti-graft agency’s investigators.

The agency is also still grilling Edu in connection with an alleged N17bn fraud, while the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu, is also still being questioned.

An EFCC source revealed, “The commission has now recovered over N30bn from the laundered N37.1bn that was linked to former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq. 

“We were able to recover the money after we placed liens on the bank accounts of the former minister and the contractor, Mr. Okwete, who was linked to the fraud under probe. 

“Both the minister and the contractor are still being grilled by our investigators daily.”

A senior EFCC investigator added, “We have uncovered another N17bn money laundering from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and for the alleged fraud linked to the suspended minister, Betta Edu, we have so far recovered over N500m. Edu is still answering questions about the issue.

“The NSIPA coordinator, Halima Shehu, is still being grilled; our investigators aren’t leaving any stone unturned.”