EFCC Returns Recovered ₦279 Million to Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture
Lagos, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over ₦279 million in recovered public funds to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos, formerly known as the National Theatre.
The anti-graft agency announced that the funds were recovered following investigations into a fraud case linked to a contract awarded for construction works at the cultural facility.
The handover ceremony took place at the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi, where officials emphasised that the recovered money should be used strictly for the development and improvement of the centre.
Investigation Traced to 2009 Petition
According to the commission, the case 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 the award and execution of a contract valued at ₦299.7 million.
The contract, reportedly awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited, was meant for the construction of gates as well as sand-filling and reclamation works at the facility.
Investigations later revealed that the acting General Manager of the theatre at the time authorised payments amounting to ₦334.2 million, exceeding the original contract value by over ₦34 million.
However, records showed that only about ₦55.9 million worth of work was actually completed, leaving a large portion of the project unexecuted.
EFCC Warns Against Misuse of Recovered Funds
Speaking during the handover, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by Acting Zonal Director Bawa Kaltungo, stressed that the funds must be applied strictly for the intended public purpose.
He warned that the commission would monitor how the money is utilised to ensure it benefits the institution and the Nigerian public.
“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work,” the EFCC representative said, cautioning against any diversion of the recovered funds.
Centre Commends EFCC
Receiving the funds on behalf of the cultural institution, Jatto Kabiru, Head of Finance and Accounts at the centre, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for recovering the money and returning it to the organisation.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts — a landmark national cultural facility in Lagos — recently underwent a major renovation and reopening aimed at revitalising Nigeria’s creative and cultural sector.
The EFCC said the recovery and restitution of the funds demonstrate its ongoing commitment to accountability and the recovery of stolen public assets.