EFCC Returns N279m Recovered From National Theatre Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N279 million recovered from a contract fraud case linked to the National Theatre, now known as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

The funds were officially returned during a ceremony held on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi, Lagos.

According to the commission, the recovery forms part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that public funds obtained through fraudulent means are returned to the appropriate institutions.

The case dates back to 2009 when Kabir Yusuf, then General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, petitioned the anti-graft agency over alleged irregularities in the execution of a contract project at the complex.

In the petition, Yusuf accused Benjamin Apugo and other individuals of wrongdoing linked to a project awarded through the former Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

Investigations revealed that a contract worth N299.7 million had been awarded to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited for the construction of five gates and for sand filling and reclamation work within the National Theatre complex.

However, EFCC findings showed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who was serving as Acting General Manager at the time, approved payments totaling N334.2 million to the contractor – an amount exceeding the original contract value by more than N34.5 million.

Further investigation revealed that the contractor only completed work valued at about N55.9 million, leaving a substantial portion of the project unfinished. The value of the unexecuted part of the contract was estimated at approximately N243.8 million.

The commission also discovered that the excess payment made to the contractor was not refunded.

Following the investigation, the suspect was prosecuted in court, and the EFCC was eventually able to recover N279 million on behalf of the National Theatre.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reiterated the agency’s commitment to accountability in the management of public funds.

He also urged the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure that the recovered money is used strictly for its intended purpose.

“We cannot go through the effort of recovering this money only for it to be used for something else,” he said, adding that the commission would monitor how the funds are spent.

Olukoyede noted that the EFCC would periodically review progress on any projects financed with the recovered funds to ensure transparency and proper utilisation.

“We will continue to monitor how the money is used. It must serve the purpose for which it was recovered and benefit Nigerians,” he added.

Receiving the funds on behalf of the centre, the Head of Finance and Accounts, Jatto Kabiru, thanked the EFCC for recovering the money and returning it to the institution.

He also assured the commission that the funds would be managed responsibly.

“We are grateful for the recovery of this money,” Kabiru said, describing the EFCC as one of the country’s most effective law enforcement agencies. “We will ensure the funds are used judiciously.”