Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate and recover N33.75 billion in cash transfers allegedly not accounted for under the Federal Government’s social investment programmes.
Falana, who is Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), made the call in a statement on Sunday.
He also urged the anti-graft agency to prosecute any public officials found culpable of diverting funds meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households across the country.
The SAN said the EFCC should collaborate with the Auditor-General for the Federation to establish what happened to the funds.
His call followed revelations by Mr Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, Auditor-General for the Federation, that the Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors showing that N33.75 billion earmarked for cash transfers had reached genuine beneficiaries.
Falana said the revelation was contained in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
He recalled that the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) was established as a statutory agency under the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act, 2022.
According to him, the legislation gave NSIPA powers to design social investment programmes, manage beneficiary databases, strengthen payment and accountability systems, and collaborate with state governments and development partners.
He listed the programmes administered under the agency as N-Power, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, National Cash Transfer, National Social Safety-Net, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
Falana, however, alleged that the agency had become vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement by some public officials.
He recalled that Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.
He said a charge was subsequently filed against Farouq and that, in April 2026, a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued arrest warrants against her and Mr Bashir Nura Alkali, former Permanent Secretary, following repeated failures to appear for arraignment.
The senior lawyer also referred to the controversy involving Dr Betta Edu, former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, who was suspended after a December 2023 memo directing the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585 million in public intervention funds into a private bank account became public.
Falana further recalled that Mrs Halima Shehu, former Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, was suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.
He urged the EFCC to conclude its investigations into the matters and establish whether Edu and Shehu had cases to answer.
The SAN noted that the Federal Government had introduced tighter tracking and verification measures following controversies surrounding the management of social investment funds.
Under the measures, beneficiaries are required to link their profiles with their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) to reduce the incidence of ghost beneficiaries and improve transparency in the distribution of public funds.
Falana, however, questioned the effectiveness of the measures in view of the Auditor-General’s latest findings concerning the N33.75 billion cash transfers.
“The EFCC should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion,” he said.
He also called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged failure to account for the funds and urged the prosecution of anyone found to have diverted or unlawfully benefited from the money.
Falana further raised concerns over the Federal Government’s recently announced 3.05 billion dollar development package.
It would be recalled that in July 2026, President Bola Tinubu unveiled the package, comprising development programmes aimed at deepening poverty reduction, strengthening human capital development and expanding economic opportunities across the country.
According to Falana, the initiatives, supported by the World Bank, were intended to ensure that the benefits of the Federal Government’s economic reforms translated into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
He urged the government to establish a transparent mechanism involving credible civil society organisations to oversee the disbursement of the funds to poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Falana expressed concern that without stronger safeguards, public officials could exploit funds meant for poverty reduction.
He also claimed that the World Bank had concluded arrangements to withdraw the funds if the Federal Government failed to prevent alleged abuse by public officials.
The Federal Government and relevant agencies may respond to the allegations and clarify the status of the N33.75 billion identified in the Auditor-General’s report.
