As part of its ongoing efforts to tackle corruption and recover misappropriated public funds, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over ₦279 million to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre, Lagos.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC disclosed that the funds were recovered following an investigation that began in 2009.
According to the statement, the investigation was initiated after a petition by Kabir Yusuf, a former General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, against Prince Benjamin Apugo and others. The petition alleged irregularities in a contract valued at ₦299,707,828 awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nig. Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling, and reclamation works at the National Theatre.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who was then acting as the General Manager of the National Theatre, authorised the release of ₦334,229,794.24 to the contractor — exceeding the original contract sum by ₦34,521,966.
Further findings showed that the contractor executed work valued at only ₦55,910,744, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦243,799,132.25 in uncompleted work. The suspect also failed to refund the excess payment of ₦34,521,966.
“Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect was charged to court for prosecution. During the trial, a total sum of ₦279,000,000 was recovered from the defendant on behalf of the complainant,” the statement said.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that public funds are properly accounted for and returned to their rightful owners.
He urged the management of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts to utilise the recovered funds judiciously.
“We cannot struggle to recover this money only for it to be used for purposes other than what it is meant for. You have already been asked to inform us of the project it will be used for, and we will be monitoring how it is utilised,” he said.
Olukoyede added that the Commission would periodically inspect the project for which the funds would be deployed.
“We will visit from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of the project. Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria and its people,” he added.
The Head of Finance and Accounts of the Centre, Jatto Kabiru, who received the bank drafts on behalf of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, thanked the EFCC for recovering the funds and assured that they would be properly utilised.
“We are most grateful for this remarkable recovery. The EFCC remains one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable law enforcement agencies. I assure you that the money will be used judiciously,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu renamed the National Theatre as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in July 2024 in honour of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
The renovation of the centre was funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, while the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy provided policy direction and oversight for the transformation of the facility into a national asset and a hub for Nigeria’s creative industries.
