The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has sought the cooperation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged mismanagement and diversion of funds provided for US-backed health programmes in Nigeria.
The proposed investigation will examine organisations and groups that received funding through programmes supported by the United States Agency for International Development, particularly projects focused on HIV and tuberculosis interventions.
The development followed a meeting between officials of the FBI and the EFCC in Lagos as both agencies moved to strengthen collaboration on financial crimes involving international funding.
The FBI Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché, Marcus Maccain, raised the matter during a visit to the EFCC Acting Zonal Director in Lagos, according to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
Maccain said the proposed collaboration was aimed at improving information-sharing and supporting investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving organisations that implemented US-funded programmes in Nigeria.
He said particular attention would be paid to funds disbursed before the termination of some USAID-supported programmes, amid questions over the handling of money that remained with implementing organisations after the programmes ended.
“We are seeking stronger engagement with the EFCC to establish how the funds were managed and identify possible financial misconduct arising from the termination of the programmes,” Maccain said.
The FBI official’s request comes as Nigerian and US authorities intensify cooperation on financial crimes involving international funds and organisations operating in the country.
The investigation is expected to establish how funds allocated to the affected programmes were received, managed and utilised, as well as whether any financial misconduct occurred following the termination of the projects.
The EFCC has yet to announce specific organisations under investigation or disclose the amount of funds being examined.
The agency’s engagement with the FBI, however, is expected to form part of broader efforts by both countries to strengthen mechanisms for tracking and investigating suspected financial irregularities involving foreign-funded programmes in Nigeria.