SDG office confirms receipt of EFCC letter, but insists it is not under investigation

Nigeria's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office has denied being investigated for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is despite the fact that the SDG office has confirmed that it has received the letter of inquiry from the EFCC into allegations of fraud and money laundering relating to certain contracts awarded by the office.

The office released its denial in a statement from its communications manager, Rotimi Ajayi, on Thursday, and shared it with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday evening.

He released the statement in reaction to a PREMIUM TIMES report on Thursday which revealed strong indication that the EFCC was shining the spotlight on some contracts awarded by the office.

The EFCC letter dated October 17 to the SDG office requested information for investigation.

The letter, signed by Ahmed Ghali of EFCC's Lagos Zonal Command, says the commission was investigating cases of abuse of power, money laundering and fraud involving the SDG office and some of its contracts awarded.

It was titled: "Investigative Activities: Request for Information", and named six companies that allegedly performed contracts of interest to the SDG Office between 2017 and 2020."

The president's senior special adviser on the SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who heads the office, had said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the letter was a routine communication to different agencies by the EFCC, not for the crime investigation.

Echoing Ms. Orelope-Adefulire, the SDG office statement acknowledged receiving a letter from the EFCC requesting information on certain contracts awarded by the office and insisted that the anti-corruption agency's request corruption was routine by the anti-corruption agency.

However, the ADG's office emphasized that the situation did not constitute an accusation or indictment against him.

The office also promised in its statement to comply with EFCC's demands and insisted that the organization await its results.

"In support of the anti-corruption stance of His Excellency, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Office will comply with the requests as it will also be interested in the outcome of the findings.

“But the OSSAP-SDGs have strongly asserted that the regular request for information by the EFCC does not and cannot in any way constitute a general indictment or investigation against the Office.

"Indeed, we can safely say that the ODD-OSSAPs have been exonerated after similar street checks in the past. The fact is that the OSSAP-SDG cannot prevent the EFCC or any other agency from discharge its statutory responsibility and, like other agencies, we have a duty to cooperate with it in carrying out these functions.

“However, OSSAP SDGs will want to alert the media to be mindful of those who may wish to deploy their media outlet for media lawsuits, slander, and smear campaigns without concern for legal consequences,” Mr. Ajayi said.

The United Nations (UN)-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concept on updating targets set on key issues of poverty, an inclusive economy, health and well-being , education, gender equality and enabling environment for peace and security.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Ms. Orelope-Adefulire, who served as Deputy Governor of Lagos State between 2011 and 2015, as Senior Special Assistant to the President for Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs) ) in 2016 and 2019.< /p>

In 2020, allegations followed the SDG office of a N23 billion revenue shortfall in its office. Ms Orelope-Adefulire has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, in his letter, the anti-agency asked the SDG office to provide him with the documents of the contracts awarded to the companies between 2017 and 2020, as well as the certificates of completion of the contracts.

This, the commission said in the letter, would allow its detectives to conclude their in...