Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged failure to account for N33.75 billion in cash transfers meant for vulnerable Nigerians.
Falana, who is the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), also urged the anti-graft agency to collaborate with the Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF) to recover the funds if investigations establish that they were diverted.
He made the demand in a statement on Sunday following a report by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, which raised concerns over the Federal Government’s inability to provide sufficient evidence that the money was received by genuine beneficiaries.
The disclosure was contained in the 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
More Read
According to Falana, the N33.75 billion was intended for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households under the National Social Investment Programme.
He expressed concern that the alleged failure to properly account for the funds occurred despite measures introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen beneficiary identification and tracking and prevent the inclusion of ghost recipients.
The National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) was established under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022 to coordinate major social intervention programmes, including N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the National Cash Transfer Programme and the National Social Safety Net Programme.
More Read
Falana, however, said the agency had been surrounded by allegations of financial impropriety involving some of its 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 memo directing the transfer of N585 million in public intervention funds to a private bank account.
According to Falana, the then Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, was also suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.
The senior lawyer urged the EFCC to conclude investigations into the various allegations and make its findings public.
More Read
“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,” Falana said.
He further called for an immediate investigation into what he described as a serious allegation of criminal diversion of funds earmarked for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
“All the characters involved in the shameful conduct should be arrested and prosecuted without any delay,” he said.
Falana Raises Fresh Concerns Over $3.05bn Development Package
Falana also expressed concern over the implementation of a $3.05 billion package of development programmes unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026.
The development package, supported by the World Bank, is aimed at deepening poverty reduction, strengthening human capital and expanding economic opportunities across Nigeria.
Falana urged the Federal Government to ensure that the funds reach their intended beneficiaries and called for stronger independent oversight of the disbursement process.
He suggested the establishment of a monitoring body comprising credible civil society organisations to oversee the utilisation and distribution of the development funds.
According to him, stronger accountability mechanisms are essential to prevent public officials from abusing funds specifically provided to alleviate poverty and support vulnerable Nigerians.
The latest call has renewed concerns over transparency in the management of Nigeria’s social intervention funds, particularly amid repeated allegations of financial irregularities within agencies responsible for implementing poverty-reduction programmes.
