The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, is set to work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged mismanagement and diversion of funds allocated to US supported health programmes in Nigeria.
The investigation will cover organisations and groups that received funding through programmes supported by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, particularly initiatives focused on HIV and tuberculosis interventions.
The FBI made the request during a meeting with the EFCC in Lagos as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation in tackling financial crimes involving international funds.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement following a meeting between officials of both agencies.
According to the statement, the request was presented by the FBI Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché, Marcus Maccain, during his visit to the EFCC Acting Zonal Director in Lagos.
Maccain said the partnership was aimed at improving cooperation between the two agencies and supporting investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving organisations that implemented US funded programmes in Nigeria.
He explained that the investigation would focus on funds released before the termination of some USAID supported programmes.
The FBI official said concerns had emerged over the management of funds that remained with some implementing organisations after certain programmes were discontinued.
“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 proposed investigation is expected to examine how the funds were handled by organisations involved in the implementation of the affected health programmes.
The development further highlights the growing cooperation between Nigerian and US law enforcement agencies in investigating suspected financial irregularities involving international development funds.
