EFCC Hands Over Recovered ₦1.05bn Entitlements to 659 Disengaged Adamawa Teachers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over ₦1.054 billion recovered during an investigation to 659 disengaged staff of the Adamawa State Post-Primary Schools Management Board, bringing renewed attention to their long-running struggle to recover unpaid entitlements.

The commission’s Gombe Zonal Directorate presented a bank draft valued at ₦1,054,919,532.61 to the beneficiaries at a handover ceremony, according to a statement published on Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC Austine Adache, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to accountability and the return of recovered funds to their rightful owners.

He said the recovery and handover demonstrated the agency’s resolve to ensure that victims of financial misconduct receive appropriate redress.

Luka Musa Haruna, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who represented the affected workers, commended the EFCC for its investigation and efforts to secure the funds.

Abraham B. Song, whose petition prompted the investigation, also praised the commission’s intervention. He said the development would help ease the financial hardship experienced by the teachers after years of pursuing payment.

The case dates back to the recruitment of the teachers by the Adamawa State Government. According to the petition, the workers were employed in 2012 and served for 29 months in various secondary schools before their appointments were declared illegal in 2014.

The affected workers subsequently approached the National Industrial Court to challenge the decision and seek payment of their outstanding entitlements.

In June 2018, the court ordered the Adamawa State Government to pay the 659 claimants a total of ₦660.318 million, comprising unpaid salaries and other compensation.

Despite the judgment, questions remained over the payment and handling of the funds. The EFCC said it received a petition in 2024 and began investigating concerns surrounding the money.

According to the commission, information obtained during the investigation indicated a risk that the funds could be misapplied. It therefore took steps to preserve the money pending the outcome of its inquiries.

The subsequent recovery enabled the commission to hand the funds over to the beneficiaries.

The latest development marks a significant step in the teachers’ prolonged effort to obtain their entitlements and highlights the role of financial investigations in tracing and returning funds to intended recipients.