Nigerian investigators have recovered nearly $27 million in a corruption investigation involving a suspended government minister and other officials,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu in January following allegations she had diverted public funds into private bank accounts.
According to local media Tinubu also suspended the head of the ministry’s social investment fund agency Halima Shehu over alleged graft.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said in a statement The probe into the humanitarian affairs ministry has so far recovered $26.4 million and $455,000
“Investigations have also linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance,” it said, without giving details.
A former Lagos state governor, Tinubu came to power last year promising to crack down on graft in Nigeria, which remains one of the lowest ranked on Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index.
The Nigerian leader has introduced broad economic reforms and suspended several officials, including former central bank chief Godwin Emefiele and ex-head of the EFCC as part of his shakeup.