The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission has arrested seven officials in the Federal Ministry of
Health for their alleged role in the diversion of over $4m.
The money, it was learnt, was part of
the money given to Nigeria by the Global Fund to fight AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. Global Fund is an international financing
organisation that aims to attract and disburse additional resources to
prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
An impeccable source at the commission
told our correspondent that the suspects were arrested following a
directive by the Presidency that the culprits should be brought to book.
The suspects, it was learnt, were from
the Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, which was in
charge of managing the fund.
A source at the EFCC said, “The
Presidency directed the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to
investigate the matter. We have made arrests and we are currently
compiling our report. We will send it to the Presidency and then charge
the suspects to court.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was not
happy that the money that was meant to be used in saving lives was
stolen. We take this seriously just like the arms scam.”
Global Fund, through its Office of the
Inspector-General of Police, had in May issued a report in which it
accused Nigerian officials of embezzling part of the fund.
It alleged irregularities such as the
payment of $20m to suppliers without confirming delivery and the failure
to account for $3.7m supposedly spent on anti-retroviral drugs.
The organisation added that seven out of
10 Nigerian health officials and three consultants were linked to the
misappropriation of funds through inflating hotel bills, falsifying
receipts, claiming expenditures for travel not made, and colluding with
and receiving kickbacks from hotel operators and suppliers.
When our correspondent sent an email to
Global Fund as regards the investigation, the organisation confirmed
that the Federal Government had commenced investigation and also
commended the government.
In an email which was signed by
Specialist, Editorial Team, Communications Department, Ibon
Villelabeitia, the organisation said it was assisting the Federal
Government with investigations.
The statement read in part, “The
government of Nigeria has responded in a responsible and energetic way.
We are very encouraged by the commitment shown by the current government
of Nigeria to dealing with the issues raised in the audit report by the
Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector-General of Police. We are
cooperating with the Government of Nigeria on these issues, but we are
not actively involved in investigations being performed by the
Government of Nigeria.”
In a separate report, Global Fund noted that it had stopped disbursing funds to Nigeria.
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