FEMI FALANA ‘SAN’

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the alleged failure of the Federal Government to account for N33.75 billion earmarked as cash transfers to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Falana, Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, also urged the EFCC to work with the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, to recover the funds if investigations establish that they were diverted.

He made the demand in a statement on Sunday following revelations contained in the Auditor-General’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

The report raised concerns over the Federal Government’s inability to provide adequate evidence that N33.75 billion in cash transfers actually reached genuine beneficiaries. According to Falana, the funds were intended for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households under the National Social Investment Programme.

The senior lawyer said the revelation was disturbing, particularly because the government had introduced safeguards designed to strengthen beneficiary verification, improve tracking and eliminate ghost recipients from the social intervention programmes.

The National Social Investment Programme Agency, established under the NSIPA Act 2022, is responsible for implementing major social intervention schemes, including N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the National Cash Transfer Programme and the National Social Safety Net Programme.

Falana noted, however, that NSIPA and the humanitarian affairs sector had been dogged by allegations of financial impropriety involving some officials.

He recalled that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, had been investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.

He also cited the suspension of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, following a December 2023 directive to transfer N585 million in public intervention funds to a private bank account.

Similarly, the former National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, was suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious financial transactions.

Falana urged the EFCC to conclude investigations into the various allegations and make its findings public, stressing that anyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion,” he said.

He added that the EFCC should immediately investigate the alleged criminal diversion of funds meant for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

“All the characters involved in the shameful conduct should be arrested and prosecuted without any delay,” Falana said.

Falana also expressed concern over the implementation of a $3.05 billion development package unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026, with support from the World Bank.

The package is designed to deepen poverty reduction, strengthen human capital development and expand economic opportunities across Nigeria.

He urged the Federal Government to put stronger accountability mechanisms in place to ensure that funds allocated for poverty reduction actually reach their intended beneficiaries.

Falana further proposed the establishment of an independent monitoring body comprising credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement and utilisation of the development funds.

According to him, stronger transparency and accountability measures are essential to prevent the diversion or abuse of public resources meant to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

ADVERTISEMENTS