The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N279 million in recovered funds to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre Lagos, as part of efforts to recover misappropriated public resources.
The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi.
According to the Commission, the recovery followed investigations into a petition submitted in 2009 by Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre. The petition accused Benjamin Apugo and others of irregularities in the award and execution of a contract valued at N299.7 million.
The contract, reportedly awarded through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited, covered the construction of five gates, sand filling and reclamation works at the National Theatre complex.
EFCC investigations revealed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, authorised the release of N334.2 million to the contractor—an amount exceeding the approved contract sum by N34.5 million.
Further findings showed that the contractor executed work valued at only N55.9 million, leaving N243.8 million worth of the project uncompleted. The suspect also failed to refund the excess payment made above the original contract value.
Following the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was charged to court. During the course of the trial, the EFCC recovered N279 million from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that recovered public funds are returned to their rightful institutions.
He urged the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure that the recovered funds are applied strictly to the intended projects.
“We cannot suffer to recover this money and then have it used for purposes other than what it is meant for,” he said, noting that the Commission would monitor the utilisation of the funds.
Kaltungo added that the EFCC would conduct periodic inspections of the projects financed with the recovered funds to ensure transparency and accountability.
Receiving the bank drafts on behalf of the cultural centre, Jatto Kabiru, Head of Finance and Accounts at the National Theatre, commended the EFCC for its efforts in recovering the funds.
He assured the Commission that the money would be utilised judiciously and in line with the centre’s mandate to promote arts and culture in Nigeria.
Kabiru described the EFCC as one of the country’s most effective law enforcement agencies and expressed appreciation for its role in safeguarding public resources.
