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Nigeria Recovers Millions From Suspended Minister
Nigerian investigators have recouped nearly $27 million (Ksh.3.5 billion) in an ongoing corruption investigation targeting a suspended government minister and other officials, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced late on Sunday.
The probe centers on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, led by suspended minister Betta Edu. President Bola Tinubu suspended Edu in January on suspicion of diverting public funds for personal gain. The EFCC statement further revealed that investigations “linked several interdicted and suspended officials of the Ministry to the alleged financial malfeasance.”
This is not the first high-profile suspension under President Tinubu’s administration. Tinubu, who campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, has also suspended the head of the ministry’s social investment program, Halima Shehu, and reportedly brought in former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq for questioning. Shehu was subsequently arrested and released on bail.
The recovered funds total 32.7 billion naira ($26.4 million) and $455,000. These developments come amidst Nigeria’s worsening poverty crisis. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate has risen from 40% in 2018 to a staggering 46% in 2023, impacting an estimated 104 million people.
President Tinubu’s crackdown on corruption extends beyond the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. He has also implemented broad economic reforms and suspended other high-ranking officials, including former central bank governor Godwin Emefiele and the former head of the EFCC itself. Nigeria’s fight against corruption remains an uphill battle, with the country still ranking low on Transparency International’s corruption perception index.
Rains Kill 58 In Tanzania In Two Weeks
At least 58 people have been killed across 10 regions in mainland Tanzania due to flash floods triggered by heavy rains over the past two weeks, according to a government official.
Mobhare Matinyi, the Chief Government Spokesperson, revealed the death toll during a press conference held on Sunday, April 14 in Dar es Salaam. Citing police reports, Matinyi confirmed that the fatalities occurred between April 1 and April 13.
The official breakdown of casualties across regions paints a grim picture: Arusha (10), Geita (4), Dar es Salaam (2), Iringa (5), Kilimanjaro (1), Lindi (4), Mbeya (6), Morogoro (5), Coast (11), and Rukwa (10).
Matinyi highlighted the coastal regions of Coast and Morogoro as the most severely impacted areas. These regions have witnessed significant damage, with 4,635 and 6,204 households affected in Coast and Morogoro, respectively.
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