Falana urges probe, prosecution over N33.75bn cash transfer funds

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate and prosecute officials allegedly responsible for the failure to account for N33.75bn earmarked for cash transfers to poor andvulnerable Nigerians.
Hemade the call in a statement on Sunday, following a disclosure by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, that the Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors that the money reached genuine beneficiaries.
The funds were reportedly meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households.
The Auditor-General’s finding was contained in the 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
Falana urged the EFCC to liaise with the Auditor-General’s office to recover the money and prosecute public officials found culpable.
He said, “The EFCC should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75bn. Furthermore, the EFCC should embark on an immediate investigation of the serious allegation of the criminal diversion of the sum of N33.75bn in cash transfers earmarked for poor and vulnerable people in the country.”
The lawyer said the National Social Investment Programme Agency was established under the NSIPA Act 2022 to design social investment programmes, manage beneficiaries’ databases and strengthen payment and ac bedcountability systems.
He, however, expressed concern that alleged corruption by public officials had undermined the management of the programmes.
Falana recalled that former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Farouq, had been investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1bn.
He also recalled that a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an arrest warrant against Farouq and her former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Alkali, in April 2026 following their repeated failure to appear for arraignment.
The SAN further referenced the controversy involving former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, who was suspended in January 2024 after a memo directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585m in intervention funds into a private bank account.
Falana also urged the EFCC to conclude its investigation into allegations involving Edu and the former Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Halima Shehu.
“By now, the EFCC ought to have concluded its investigation into the scandal to enable Betta Edu and Halima Shehu to know their fate,” he said.
He warned that the latest revelation raised fresh concerns over the effectiveness of measures introduced by the Federal Government to track beneficiaries and prevent fraud in social investment programmes.
Falana also called for greater transparency in the planned $3.05bn development package unveiled by President Bola Tinubu, urging the government to establish an independent mechanism involving credible civil society organisations to oversee its disbursement.
He said the government must ensure that funds meant to reduce poverty and support vulnerable Nigerians were not diverted or mismanaged.
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