EFCC hands over recovered N279m to National Theatre

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday handed over a recovered sum of N279 million to Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (former National Theatre), Lagos.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed  this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the exercise was part of  the commission’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and recover misappropriated public funds.

According to him, the funds were handed over to the organisation at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi.

The statement read: ”The commission had, in 2009, received a petition from Kabir Yusuf, former General Manager/CEO of the National Theatre, against Prince Benjamin Apugo and others.

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”The petitioner alleged 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 contract was for the construction of five gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the National Theatre.

“Investigations later revealed that the suspect, Yusuf Atai, in his capacity as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre, released the sum of N334,229,794.24 to the contractor.

” The amount exceeded the original contract sum by N34,521,966.00.

“Further investigations showed that the contractor only executed work valued at N55,910,744.00, leaving an outstanding balance of N243,799,132.25 in unexecuted work.

” The suspect also failed to refund the excess payment of N34,521,966.00.

”Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was charged to court.

”During the course of the trial, a total sum of N279,000,000.00 was recovered from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.”

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