The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is intensifying efforts to recover more than N123.7billion allegedly linked to corruption, fraud and money laundering involving six former ministers who served under the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency is currently prosecuting and investigating the former cabinet members over allegations ranging from abuse of office and contract fraud to diversion of public funds and illicit asset acquisition during Buhari’s administration between 2015 and 2023.
The former ministers under EFCC scrutiny are ex-Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN); former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika; ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman; former Labour Minister, Chris Ngige; former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva; and former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
The investigations have renewed public scrutiny of the anti-corruption legacy of the Buhari administration, which came into office in 2015 with a strong promise to fight corruption.
As a presidential candidate, Buhari famously declared: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”
However, several senior officials, who served in his government later became subjects of high-profile corruption allegations and financial crime investigations.
Among the former ministers, ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman has recorded the most significant legal setback after his conviction by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court found Mamman guilty on 12 counts bordering on money laundering and diversion of public funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
Justice James Omotosho sentenced the former minister to a cumulative 75 years imprisonment after ruling that about N33.8bn earmarked for critical power projects was diverted through proxies and shell companies.
The court also ordered Mamman to refund approximately N22bn to the Federal Government.
The EFCC described the conviction as one of its biggest successes in the prosecution of politically exposed persons in recent years.
Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika is currently standing trial alongside his daughter, Fatima Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Sule, over alleged abuse of office and fraudulent contract awards valued at about N2.7bn.
According to the EFCC, Sirika allegedly used his office to award contracts linked to the Katsina Airport project and consultancy services for a Nigerian Air Force initiative to companies associated with members of his family.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja and were later granted bail.
The trial is expected to continue later this year.
Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was arraigned in December 2025 over allegations of abuse of office, unlawful gratification and contract fraud.
The EFCC alleged that the former Anambra governor received financial benefits and gifts worth about N2.26bn from contractors linked to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) during his tenure as minister.
Prosecutors accused Ngige of influencing contract processes and benefiting from companies awarded government contracts under agencies supervised by his ministry.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), is also facing multiple investigations over alleged illicit financial dealings, suspicious investments and money laundering.
The EFCC is probing investments reportedly worth over N10bn in Kebbi State as well as transactions connected to recovered Sani Abacha loot amounting to about N346.2million.
In January 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami and two of his sons.
The properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, were valued at more than N213.2bn.
Some of the assets listed by investigators include luxury duplexes in Maitama and Asokoro, hotels, schools, factories, petrol stations and commercial buildings.
Malami, his wife and one of his sons are also facing an alleged N8.7bn money laundering case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The EFCC also declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged $14.8m fraud, equivalent to about N21bn.
The anti-graft agency accused the former Bayelsa governor of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
According to investigators, the money was allegedly diverted for the development of the Atlantic International Refinery project.
Former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is also under investigation over alleged diversion of public funds.
The former minister is being investigated over an earlier EFCC probe involving alleged diversion of N37.1bn from social intervention programmes.
She is also linked to another case involving alleged diversion of about $1.3m and N746.6m.
The investigations are part of broader efforts by the EFCC to track the management of public funds under the previous administration.
With several cases still pending before different courts, legal analysts say the outcome of the prosecutions could shape public perception of Nigeria’s anti-corruption war and determine whether the government can successfully recover billions of naira allegedly diverted by former public officials.
If convictions and final forfeiture orders are secured, the Federal Government could recover more than N123bn in cash and assets linked to the embattled ex-ministers.
Source – Newstrend
(vitalnewsngr.com)
