EFCC hands over N279m recovered from National Theatre contract fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has returned a sum of N279 million recovered from a contract fraud case to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre in Lagos.

The handover took place on Friday during a brief ceremony at the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi.

According to the commission, the restitution forms part of its ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure that misappropriated public funds are recovered and returned to the appropriate institutions.

Details released by the EFCC revealed that the matter dates back to 2009, when the then General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Kabir Yusuf, submitted a petition alleging irregularities in a contract project at the complex. The petition accused Prince Benjamin Apugo and other individuals of involvement in the alleged fraud.

The petition stated that a contract worth N299,707,828.00 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited. The project involved the construction of five entrance gates, alongside sand filling and land reclamation within the National Theatre premises.

However, investigations by the anti-graft agency showed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, approved and paid a total of N334,229,794.24 to the contractor—an amount exceeding the original contract sum by N34,521,966.00.

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Further findings revealed that the contractor executed only N55,910,744.00 worth of work, leaving a significant portion of the project incomplete. The outstanding and unexecuted part of the contract was valued at N243,799,132.25.

Investigators also discovered that the excess payment made to the contractor was never refunded.

Following the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was arraigned in court and prosecuted.

During the trial, the EFCC successfully recovered N279,000,000.00 from the defendant on behalf of the complainant institution.

The recovered amount was subsequently returned to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

Speaking during the presentation, EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to accountability and transparency in the management of recovered assets.

He urged the management of the centre to ensure the funds are used strictly for their intended purpose.

“We cannot go through the stress of recovering this money only for it to be diverted after it has been handed over. You have already been asked to indicate how the funds will be utilised, and we will closely monitor the process. Nigerians deserve to know how recovered funds are managed,” he said.

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Kaltungo also noted that the commission would periodically inspect projects executed with the funds.

“We will continue to monitor the work from time to time. Our eagle eyes will remain on the project to ensure proper utilisation. The recovered money must be used for the benefit of the country and its people,” he added.

Receiving the bank drafts on behalf of the institution, the Head of Finance and Accounts at the National Theatre, Jatto Kabiru, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for recovering the funds.

He assured the commission that the money would be applied appropriately.

“We are sincerely grateful for the recovery of this substantial amount. The EFCC has demonstrated once again that it remains one of the most dependable law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. I assure you that the funds will be judiciously utilised,” he said.

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