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 said 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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