FBI, EFCC Join Forces to Investigate Alleged USAID Funds Diversion
Pecohub The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for assistance in investigating the alleged mismanagement and diversion of funds released for United States-backed health programmes in Nigeria.
The investigation is expected to cover organisations that received funds under programmes supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), particularly projects targeting HIV and tuberculosis interventions.
The request was made during a meeting between officials of the FBI and the EFCC in Lagos, as both countries move to deepen cooperation on financial crimes involving international funds.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the request was presented by Macus Maccain, Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the FBI, during his visit to the office of Bawa Kaltungo, the EFCC Acting Zonal Director in Lagos.
Maccain said the engagement was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two agencies and assisting investigations into financial irregularities linked to organisations that implemented US-funded programmes in Nigeria.
He explained that the focus would be on funds released before some of the USAID-supported programmes were discontinued.
The FBI official said questions had emerged over how implementing organisations handled money that remained in their possession after the termination of some programmes.
“We are seeking stronger engagement with the EFCC to establish how the funds were managed and identify possible financial misconduct arising from the termination of the programmes,” Maccain said.
The investigation comes against the background of the major changes to US foreign aid programmes under the Trump administration, which resulted in the cancellation, suspension or termination of several USAID activities.
Nigeria was among the countries where USAID had supported major health interventions over the years.
The agency worked with government institutions and local and international organisations on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programmes.
Before the changes to US foreign assistance, USAID said its health programmes in Nigeria had supported HIV testing, treatment and care, while also assisting the country with tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The United States has also continued to conduct financial audits of organisations that managed USAID resources in Nigeria.
Recent audits listed by the USAID Office of Inspector General include programmes managed by the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation Nigeria and Georgetown Global Health Nigeria.
These audits have added to scrutiny of how donor-funded programmes were administered and accounted for after funds were released to implementing partners.
Speaking during the meeting, Jeremy Kennon, a Special Agent with the Office of Inspector General of the US Department of State, said the United States and Nigeria had previously reached agreements to fund interventions aimed at tackling HIV and tuberculosis.
According to him, the programmes involved several organisations responsible for delivering healthcare services to Nigerians.
Some of the organisations were involved in establishing one-stop centres where people living with HIV could receive treatment and other related services.
Kennon said reviews of some of the programmes had raised concerns about inflated budgets and other financial irregularities in Kano State and other parts of the country.
