The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of ₦279 million recovered from a fraud case 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 funds.
The handover ceremony took place on Friday at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
According to a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the commission received a petition in 2009 from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, against Prince Benjamin Apugo and others over alleged contract irregularities.
Oyewale said the petition alleged that a contract valued at ₦299,707,828 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nig. Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling and reclamation works at the National Theatre.
The EFCC spokesperson stated that investigations revealed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, authorised the release of ₦334,229,794.24 to the contractor.
He noted that the payment exceeded the original contract value by ₦34,521,966.
Oyewale further disclosed that investigations showed the contractor executed work valued at only ₦55,910,744, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦243,799,132.25 in unexecuted work.
He added that the suspect also failed to refund the excess payment of ₦34,521,966.
The EFCC spokesman said the suspect was subsequently charged to court after the completion of investigations, noting that ₦279 million was eventually recovered from the defendant during the course of the trial on behalf of the complainant.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring accountability in the management of public funds.
Olukoyede urged the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to ensure the recovered funds are used for their intended purpose.
“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. We have already asked you to tell us what you intend to do with it, and you should know that we will keep an eye on how it is utilised,” he said.
He added that Nigerians are often interested in knowing how recovered funds are utilised and assured that the commission would monitor the use of the money.
“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of work. Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria and all of us,” he said.
The Head of Finance and Accounts of the centre, Jatto Kabiru, who received the bank drafts on behalf of the institution, commended the EFCC for recovering the funds.
Kabiru described the commission as one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable law enforcement agencies and assured that the recovered money would be utilised responsibly.
“I assure you that the money will be used judiciously,” he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in July 2024 renamed the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
The renovation of the centre was funded and supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.
The Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy also provided policy direction and oversight for the transformation of the facility into a hub for Nigeria’s creative industry.
