The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is set to work with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged financial irregularities involving funds provided for US-supported health programmes in Nigeria.
The investigation is expected to cover organisations and groups that received funding through programmes backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Particular attention will be given to projects focused on HIV and tuberculosis interventions, according to information disclosed by the EFCC.
The proposed collaboration was discussed during a meeting between officials of the FBI and EFCC in Lagos as both agencies seek to strengthen cooperation in tackling financial crimes involving international funds.
FBI Requests Stronger Cooperation
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the request was made by Marcus Maccain, Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the FBI, during his visit to the EFCC Acting Zonal Director in Lagos.
Maccain said closer cooperation between the two agencies would assist ongoing efforts to establish how funds provided for US-backed programmes were handled by implementing organisations.
He explained that the investigation would also examine financial transactions connected to programmes that were subsequently terminated.
Focus on Funds Remaining After Programme Termination
According to the FBI official, questions have emerged regarding funds that remained with some organisations after the end of certain USAID-supported programmes.
The proposed investigation will therefore seek to establish how such funds were managed and whether any financial misconduct occurred.
“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 collaboration is expected to strengthen information sharing between the US and Nigerian authorities while helping investigators determine whether any financial violations occurred.
The investigation concerns alleged financial misconduct, and any organisation or individual under scrutiny would be entitled to due process.
