By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday handed over ₦279 million in recovered funds to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos. The money was recovered from a corruption case linked to the centre’s renovation project. EFCC officials presented the funds during a ceremony at the agency’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi. The recovered money will support projects at the cultural centre.
EFCC Warns Against Misuse Of Recovered Funds
During the handover ceremony, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by Acting Zonal Director Bawa Usman Kaltungo, stressed that the agency will closely monitor how the funds are used.
He warned that the commission would regularly inspect the projects financed with the money.
“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will watch the pace of work. Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria,” he said.
Olukoyede also noted that Nigerians expect transparency in how recovered assets are utilized.
“We cannot recover this money and allow it to be diverted again. We will keep an eye on its utilisation,” he added.
Centre Management Commends EFCC
Meanwhile, the Head of Finance and Accounts, Jatto Kabiru, received the bank drafts on behalf of the centre’s management.
Kabiru praised the EFCC for recovering the funds and promised that the money would serve its intended purpose.
“We are most grateful for this remarkable recovery. The EFCC remains one of Nigeria’s most reliable law enforcement agencies,” he said.
He further assured that the funds would be used responsibly.
Background Of The Corruption Case
The EFCC explained that its investigation uncovered financial irregularities involving Yusuf Ahmed Atai, the Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time.
Investigators discovered that Atai approved ₦334,229,794.24 for a contractor. However, the payment exceeded the approved contract sum by ₦34,521,966.
Further investigation revealed that the contractor executed work worth only ₦55,910,744. As a result, ₦243,799,132.25 remained for unexecuted work.
The suspect also failed to refund the excess payment.
Consequently, the EFCC charged him in court. During the trial, authorities recovered ₦279 million from the defendant.
Petition That Triggered Investigation
According to the EFCC, the case began in 2009 after a petition from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager and CEO of the National Theatre.
The petition accused Prince Benjamin Apugo and others of irregularities in a ₦299,707,828 contract.
The project involved the construction of five gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the National Theatre. Authorities said the contract went to Techno Exportstroy Nig. Limited through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
National Theatre Renamed After Wole Soyinka
In July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renamed the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts. The move honoured Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
The renovation of the facility was funded and supervised by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.
Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy provided policy direction for the project. The ministry aims to transform the centre into a major hub for Nigeria’s creative industry.
