EFCC Hands Over Recovered ₦279 Million to Wole Soyinka Centre in Lagos
On March
6, 2026, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) formally handed
over the sum of ₦279 million to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the
Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos, formerly known as the National Theatre.
This
event marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against
corruption and the recovery of misappropriated public funds.
The funds originated from a long-standing case dating back to 2009, when a petition was filed against Prince Benjamin Apugo and others concerning a contract awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
The
contract, valued at ₦299,707,828.00, was meant for the construction of five
gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the National Theatre.
Investigations revealed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, then Acting General Manager of
the National Theatre, released ₦334,229,794.24 to the contractor, an amount
exceeding the original contract sum by over ₦34 million.
However,
the contractor executed work worth only ₦55.9 million, leaving an outstanding
balance of ₦243.8 million in unexecuted work and failing to refund the excess
payment.
Following
prosecution, the EFCC successfully recovered ₦279 million from the defendant.
At the handover ceremony held at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi,
the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, represented by Assistant
Commander Bawa Usman Kaltungo, emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring
that recovered public funds are properly utilized.
He
cautioned the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre to deploy the funds
judiciously, stressing that the EFCC would conduct periodic inspections to
monitor the progress of projects financed with the recovered money.
Receiving
the bank drafts on behalf of the Centre, Head of Finance and Accounts Jatto
Kabiru expressed gratitude to the EFCC, describing the recovery as a remarkable
feat. He assured that the funds would be used appropriately to advance the
Centre’s mission.
The Wole
Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts was renamed in July 2024 by
President Bola Tinubu in honor of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. Its renovation
was funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with
the Bankers’ Committee, with policy direction provided by the Federal Ministry
of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy.
The
transformation of the facility has positioned it as a national asset and a hub
for Nigeria’s creative industries.
This
handover not only underscores the EFCC’s determination to safeguard public
resources but also strengthens the cultural and creative infrastructure of
Nigeria, ensuring that recovered funds contribute meaningfully to national
development.
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