Falana demands probe, recovery of N33.75bn cash transfers
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for an investigation into N33.75 billion in cash transfers which the Auditor-General for the Federation says cannot be adequately accounted for.
Falana wants the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to establish what happened to the funds reportedly earmarked for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households and prosecute anyone found culpable.
*Femi Falana
Abimbola Joseph
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for an investigation into N33.75 billion in cash transfers which the Auditor-General for the Federation says cannot be adequately accounted for.
Falana wants the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to establish what happened to the funds reportedly earmarked for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The lawyer made the demand in a statement on Sunday after the Auditor-General, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, raised concerns over the Federal Government’s inability to provide sufficient evidence that the money reached the intended beneficiaries.
Chira’s concerns were contained in the Auditor-General’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in federal ministries, departments and agencies, which highlighted shortcomings in the management and tracking of the cash transfer funds.
The funds were reportedly meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households under the National Social Investment Programme.
Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, said the disclosure was disturbing, especially given the measures introduced by the government to verify beneficiaries and block fictitious names from the programme.
He said the EFCC should determine what happened to the funds, identify those responsible for any wrongdoing and publish the outcome of its investigation.
“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,” he said.
Falana further called for the arrest and prosecution of anyone found to have been involved in the alleged diversion.
He linked the latest development to previous controversies surrounding the administration of humanitarian and social intervention funds.
The lawyer recalled that the EFCC had investigated former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over allegations of money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.
He also mentioned the suspension of former Minister Betta Edu after a directive was issued for N585 million in intervention funds to be transferred to a private bank account.
Falana noted that the former chief executive of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu, was similarly suspended and investigated over alleged suspicious financial transactions.
According to him, the latest findings should prompt the government to strengthen its safeguards for public funds intended to alleviate poverty.
He also raised concerns about the management of a $3.05 billion development package unveiled by President Bola Tinubu in July 2026 with support from the World Bank.
The package is intended to advance poverty reduction, human capital development and economic opportunities across the country.
Falana urged the government to put stronger monitoring arrangements in place to ensure that the funds benefit those for whom they were approved.
He also proposed that credible civil society organisations should be involved in monitoring the disbursement and implementation of the development programmes. He said independent oversight and greater transparency were necessary to prevent the misuse of public resources meant to assist poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
