The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened money laundering cases against 13 former governors and several ex-ministers, with the cumulative amounts involved running into over N853.8 billion, News About Nigeria reports.
Investigations revealed that the initially identified sum at stake was no less than N772.2 billion.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency is now scrutinising an extra N81.6 billion allegedly misappropriated in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
In a recent development, an additional $2.2 billion is now under investigation, believed to have been lost through money laundering, fund diversion, and misappropriation.
This amount was allegedly diverted by notable figures, including former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, late media mogul Raymond Dokpesi, former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, and former Minister of State for Finance Bashir Yuguda.
The funds, initially designated for arms procurement to support the fight against terrorists, were purportedly laundered and misappropriated.
Several prominent figures are implicated, including former governors Kayode Fayemi, Ayo Fayose, Bello Matawalle, Chimaroke Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, Abdullahi Adamu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Odili, Theodore Orji, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wamako, Timipre Sylva, and Sule Lamido.
Matawalle, currently serving as Minister of Defence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is under investigation for alleged N70 billion money laundering. Fayemi and Fayose face probes for alleged N4 billion and N6.9 billion fraud, respectively.
Other investigations cover allegations ranging from N5.3 billion to N551 billion in money laundering.
The EFCC’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has ordered a comprehensive review of all high-profile cases, stating that there would be impartiality and thoroughness in investigating politicians and former public officials.
Several banks’ CEOs, civil servants, and contractors are also under investigation in connection with the fraud uncovered by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Olukoyede has assured that all high-profile cases will be revisited and pursued diligently, asserting that no one is above the law.
