The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of N279 million recovered from a contractor to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre Lagos.
The anti-graft agency said the money was recovered following investigations into alleged contract fraud linked to projects at the cultural facility.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the handover ceremony took place at the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi.
Oyewale explained that the case originated from a petition submitted in 2009 by the former General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Kabir Yusuf, against Prince Benjamin Apugo and other individuals over alleged contract irregularities.
According to the EFCC, the petition alleged that a contract worth N299,707,828 was awarded through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling and land reclamation works at the National Theatre complex.
However, investigations by the commission later revealed that Yusuf Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre, approved and released N334,229,794.24 to the contractor — an amount exceeding the approved contract sum by N34,521,966.
Further findings showed that the contractor executed work valued at only N55,910,744, leaving a balance of N243,799,132.25 in uncompleted work, while the excess payment of N34,521,966 was also not refunded.
The EFCC said the suspect was subsequently arraigned in court and that during the trial, the sum of N279 million was recovered from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.
Speaking during the handover, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Kaltungo, reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that recovered public funds are returned to their rightful institutions.
He warned the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure the funds are used strictly for the purpose they are meant for.
Olukoyede said, “We cannot suffer to recover this money for you and then have it used for purposes other than what it is meant for after receiving it from us.
“Nigerians have always sought to know what the commission does with recovered funds. We will continue to monitor how this money is utilised.”
He added that the commission would periodically inspect the projects for which the recovered funds would be deployed.
“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of work,” he said.
The Head of Finance and Accounts of the National Theatre, Jatto Kabiru, who received the bank drafts on behalf of the centre, commended the EFCC for recovering the funds and pledged that the money would be used judiciously.
Kabiru described the recovery as a remarkable effort and assured the commission that the funds would be properly utilised for the benefit of the institution and Nigerians.
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