FBI, EFCC to probe USAID funds diversion, mismanagement in Nigeria

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe alleged diversion and mismanagement of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds in Nigeria.

The FBI official explained that their visit to the EFCC aimed, among other things, to strengthen existing cooperation in investigating alleged financial irregularities involving organisations that received funds under programmes supported by USAID, particularly those connected with HIV and tuberculosis interventions.

Jeremy Kennon, special agent in the Office of Inspector General, Department of State, who was among the delegation, also said, “We’ll like to work with the EFCC on this on a long-term basis, and we’ll be sharing information with you; not just getting information from you.”

Mr Kaltungo, who welcomed the FBI delegation on behalf of the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, described the relationship between Nigeria and the U.S. as “a long-standing one, particularly in the area of law enforcement cooperation.”

According to Mr Kaltungo, the EFCC would investigate allegations of the diversion or mismanagement of USAID funds across Nigeria and trace the funds to their ultimate beneficiaries.

The EFCC official added that tracing the funds and identifying the beneficiaries would enable investigators to establish “how the money was spent; whether it was deployed for the purposes for which it was provided and whether any portion was mismanaged or diverted following the cancellation of the programmes.”