Lagos-based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Sunday, asked 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.
The senior legal luminary equally tasked the commission to prosecute any public officials found culpable in the alleged diversion of funds meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households across the country.
Falana, who is the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), in a statement, suggested that the anti-graft agency should liaise with the Auditor-General for the Federation to investigate the whereabouts of the funds.
The SAN’s call came consequent upon revelations by the Auditor-General for the Federation, Shaakaa Kanyitor Chira, that the FG could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors showing that N33.75 billion earmarked for cash transfers had reached genuine beneficiaries.
According to the SAN, 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 administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari enacted the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act 2022, transforming the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) into a statutory agency.
Falana stated that the legislation provided NSIPA with the legal framework and powers to design programmes, manage beneficiary databases, strengthen payment and accountability systems, and collaborate with state governments and development partners.
The programmes administered under the agency include N-Power, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, National Cash Transfer, National Social Safety-Net, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.
But Falana alleged that the agency had become vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement by some public officials.
The SAN further recalled that former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, was investigated by the EFCC over alleged money laundering involving more than N37.1 billion.
He explained that a charge was instituted against Farouq and that, in April 2026, a Federal Capital Territory High Court issued an arrest warrant against her and former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, following repeated failures to appear for arraignment.
The senior lawyer referenced the controversy surrounding former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Betta Edu, who was suspended after a December 2023 memo became public.
The memo reportedly directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to transfer N585 million in public intervention funds into a private bank account.
Falana equally recalled that Halima Shehu, then Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, was suspended and questioned over alleged suspicious movement of funds.
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He said the EFCC should have concluded its investigation into the matter to establish whether Betta Edu and Shehu have any case to answer.
The SAN noted that following the controversies surrounding the management of social investment funds, the Federal Government introduced tighter tracking and verification measures.
Under the measures, beneficiaries are required to link their profiles with their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) to help eliminate ghost beneficiaries and improve transparency in the distribution of public funds.
However, he queried the effectiveness of the system in light of the Auditor-General’s latest findings on the N33.75 billion in cash transfers.
The SAN prayed to the anti-graft agency to, without any further delay, collaborate with the Auditor-General for the Federation to determine what happened to the N33.75 billion.
Falana also requested a comprehensive investigation into the alleged failure to account for the funds and urged the anti-graft agency to prosecute anyone found to have diverted or unlawfully benefited from the money.
According to the senior legal luminary, “The EFCC should liaise with the Auditor-General of the Federation with a view to recovering the missing N33.75 billion.”
The SAN added that those found responsible for the alleged diversion should be arrested and prosecuted without delay.
Falana also raised concerns over the Federal Government’s recently announced $3.05 billion development package.
It would be recalled that in July 2026, President Bola Tinubu unveiled the package, comprising development programmes designed to deepen poverty reduction, strengthen human capital development and expand economic opportunities across Nigeria.
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 intended for poverty reduction.
He further 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 be expected to respond to the allegations and clarify the status of the N33.75 billion identified in the Auditor-General’s report.