Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately transfer the N32.7 billion and $445,000 it recently recovered to the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Falana, in a statement on Sunday, said the funds, allegedly looted by former officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, rightfully belong to NSIPA and should be used to continue the agency’s programmes targeted at poverty reduction and social welfare.
He stressed that the recovered money should not remain in the custody of the EFCC, but be transparently remitted to the appropriate government agency for the benefit of Nigerians. According to him, failure to return the funds could undermine public confidence in the anti-graft fight and fuel suspicion that recovered loot is being re-looted.
The senior lawyer further urged the Federal Government to ensure accountability and proper oversight of social investment funds, noting that billions earmarked for vulnerable Nigerians have been consistently mismanaged in the past. He also advised the EFCC to intensify efforts in prosecuting those responsible for the diversion of public resources to serve as deterrent.
Falana maintained that while recovering stolen funds is commendable, Nigerians deserve to see tangible benefits from such recoveries, especially in critical areas such as cash transfers, school feeding, and other social protection initiatives.
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