The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over a total sum of N279 million recovered from a contract fraud case to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Lagos.
The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure that stolen public funds are recovered and returned to the appropriate institutions.
According to the EFCC, the case dates back to 2009, when the then General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Kabir Yusuf, submitted a petition to the commission. In the petition, he accused Prince Benjamin Apugo and several other individuals of alleged misconduct relating to a contract project at the National Theatre complex.
Investigations revealed that a contract valued at N299,707,828.00 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited. The contract covered the construction of five gates as well as sand filling and reclamation works within the National Theatre premises.
However, the EFCC discovered that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as the Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, approved and released a total payment of N334,229,794.24 to the contractor. This payment exceeded the original contract value by N34,521,966.00.
Further investigation showed that the contractor only executed work worth N55,910,744.00, leaving a substantial portion of the project incomplete. The value of the unexecuted work was estimated at N243,799,132.25, while the excess payment made to the contractor was also not refunded.
Following the investigation, the suspect was charged to court for prosecution. During the legal proceedings, the EFCC successfully recovered N279,000,000.00 from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to accountability in the management of public funds.
He cautioned the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure that the recovered money is used strictly for its intended purpose, adding that the commission would monitor how the funds are utilized.
“We cannot struggle to recover this money and then have it used for purposes other than what it was meant for. Our officers will continue to monitor the project where the funds will be applied,” he said.
Receiving the bank drafts on behalf of the centre, Head of Finance and Accounts, Jatto Kabiru, thanked the EFCC for its efforts and assured the commission that the recovered funds would be used judiciously.
