EFCC Arrests Consultants and Health Officials For Stealing $4M HIV Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested seven officials in the Federal Ministry of Health for their alleged role in the diversion of over $4m.

The money, it was learnt, was part of the money given to Nigeria by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

A source at the EFCC said, “The Presidency directed the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, to investigate the matter. We have made arrests and we are currently compiling our report. We will send it to the Presidency and then charge the suspects to court.

Global Fund, through its Office of the Inspector-General of Police, had in May issued a report in which it accused Nigerian officials of embezzling part of the fund.

It alleged irregularities such as the payment of $20m to suppliers without confirming delivery and the failure to account for $3.7m supposedly spent on anti-retroviral drugs.

The organisation added that seven out of 10 Nigerian health officials and three consultants were linked to the misappropriation of funds through inflating hotel bills, falsifying receipts, claiming expenditures for travel not made, and colluding with and receiving kickbacks from hotel operators and suppliers.

In a separate report, Global Fund noted that it had stopped disbursing funds to Nigeria.

.......and someone said greedy officials.