The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun a probe of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, over alleged N3 billion fraud.
Herald Nigeria learnt that Oyo-Ita was interrogated by the Commission on Wednesday over allegations of contract scam, abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering and stealing of government funds.
The EFCC reportedly traced about N600million to her account, which shoe could not justify. The anti-graft agency has since frozen the account.
The Nation reports that Oyo -Ita fell sick after a four-day grilling during which she was in custody of the anti-graft agency between August 8 and 11, and was admitted in a hospital after being granted administrative bail.
Detectives with the EFCC were said to have uncovered about N3billion which came in through proxy companies.
A source said, “Preliminary investigation confirmed that she used different fronts or cronies to obtain contracts from Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“While tracing embezzlement by the ex-Minister, detectives stumbled on diversion of funds into proxy companies which the Head of Service has relationships with.
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“The startling revelations made detectives to dig further into her activities as a Permanent Secretary and Head of Service.
“There were proofs of how she secured contracts through proxy firms from some ministries including Special Duties, Power, Works and others. There was a case of abuse of office because there was evidence of pressure on Permanent Secretaries to get her contracts. She moved from one ministry to the other.
“Investigators also discovered that she was involved in falsification of Duty Tour Allowance and estacodes and about N600million has been traced to the account of one of her aides. This illicit account has been blocked and the EFCC is in the process of invoking interim forfeiture clause.”
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