Head of Service Oyo-Ita lands in hospital after hours of questioning by EFCC over alleged N3billion fraud

After the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) quizzed Nigeria’s Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita for four days over an alleged contract scam to the tune of N3billion, she checked into a hospital after being granted administrative bail, The Nation reports.

Mrs. Oyo-Ita was interrogated for alleged abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering and stealing of government funds, according to the story.

The anti-graft agency reportedly began grilling her on August 8, 2019.
Oyo-Ita has been unable to return to the office of the EFCC since she was allowed to check into the hospital.

The Nation reports that about N600million has been traced to the account of one of her key aides. This aide has been unable to explain the source of the money.
The EFCC has now successfully placed a lid on the account and has initiated the process of obtaining an interim forfeiture clause to seize the cash.

Preliminary findings confirmed that about N3billion has been traced to the Head of Service. The money hit the accounts through proxy companies, the story details.

Detectives were able to uncover slush funds linked to the Head of Service while probing the activities of a former Minister under whom she served as Permanent Secretary.

A source privy to the ongoing investigation told The Nation that: “Preliminary investigation confirmed that she used different fronts or cronies to obtain contracts from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Thenation