Alleged Fund Diversion: FBI, EFCC Probe US-Backed Health Programmes in Nigeria

<p><strong>The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation &lpar;FBI&rpar; is set to work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission &lpar;EFCC&rpar; to investigate alleged financial irregularities involving funds released for US-backed health programmes in Nigeria&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The investigation will cover organisations and groups that received funding under programmes supported by the United States Agency for International Development &lpar;USAID&rpar;&comma; particularly interventions targeting HIV and tuberculosis&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;sen-moro-sympathizes-with-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-over-mothers-death&sol;">Sen&period; Moro Commiserates With Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Over Mother&&num;8217&semi;s Death<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The FBI made the request during a meeting with EFCC officials in Lagos as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation on financial crimes involving international funds&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to EFCC spokesperson&comma; Dele Oyewale&comma; the request was presented by the FBI Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché&comma; Marcus Maccain&comma; during his visit to the EFCC Acting Zonal Director in Lagos&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;2027-mahmoud-calls-for-reconciliation-with-aggrieved-apc-members&sol;">2027&colon; Mahmoud Calls for Reconciliation with Aggrieved APC Members<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Oyewale said the proposed collaboration would strengthen cooperation between the two agencies and support investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving organisations that implemented US-funded programmes in Nigeria&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Maccain explained that the FBI was particularly interested in funds released before the termination of some USAID-supported programmes and how implementing organisations managed money that remained in their possession&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;man-city-tops-epl-table-ahead-of-united-clash&sol;">Man City Tops EPL Table Ahead of United Clash<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;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&comma;” he said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The development comes amid efforts by the FBI and EFCC to deepen cross-border cooperation in investigating suspected financial crimes involving international development funds&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;