The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over N279 million recovered from a fraud investigation to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos.
The funds were presented during a brief ceremony at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi, where officials of the anti-graft agency reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that stolen or mismanaged public funds are returned to their rightful institutions.
According to the EFCC, the recovered money was linked to a contract dispute involving the management of the former National Theatre Lagos.
The case began in 2009 when the then General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Kabir Yusuf, reported alleged financial irregularities involving a contract awarded for infrastructure work at the theatre complex.
Investigations by the commission revealed that a contract worth about N299.7 million was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to a construction company for the building of five gates and land reclamation work within the National Theatre premises.
However, EFCC investigators discovered that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who later served as Acting General Manager of the theatre, approved payments totalling N334.2 million to the contractor, an amount exceeding the approved contract sum.
Further findings showed that only a small portion of the project was actually completed, with work valued at about N55.9 million carried out while a substantial part of the project remained undone.
Following legal proceedings, the commission was able to recover N279 million from the accused in the case.
Speaking during the handover, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, urged the management of the cultural centre to ensure that the recovered money is used strictly for its intended purpose.
He noted that the EFCC would continue to monitor how the funds are utilised to ensure accountability and transparency.
Olukoyede emphasised that the agency expects the money to support projects that would benefit the institution and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s creative and cultural sector.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the centre, the Head of Finance and Accounts, Jatto Kabiru, expressed appreciation to the EFCC for successfully recovering the money.
Kabiru assured that the funds would be properly applied to projects that would improve the facility and strengthen its operations.
The cultural complex, formerly known as the National Theatre, was renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in honour of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
The facility has recently undergone major renovation works funded through a partnership involving the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee, with oversight provided by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy as part of efforts to reposition it as a major hub for Nigeria’s creative industry.
