EFCC, FBI probe alleged diversion of funds for US-backed health programmes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating alleged diversion and mismanagement of funds provided for HIV and tuberculosis programmes in Nigeria.

In a statement on Friday by the agency spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the investigation followed a meeting between officials of the two agencies at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Lagos on Thursday.

The statement noted that the FBI delegation, led by its Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché, Macus Maccain, told the EFCC that some organisations that received funds for the programmes were suspected of mismanaging or diverting money after the U.S. government terminated some of the programmes in 2025.

“We are seeking stronger engagement with the EFCC to establish how the funds were managed and identify possible financial misconduct arising from the termination of the programmes,” Mr Maccain said.

The EFCC did not disclose how much money was involved or name the organisations being investigated.

Jeremy Kennon, a special agent with the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of State, revealed that the United States and Nigerian governments had provided funds to organisations implementing HIV and tuberculosis programmes in Nigeria.

He explained that some of the organisations established one-stop centres where people received HIV treatment and other services.

Mr Kennon stressed that reviews of the programmes had raised concerns about inflated budgets and other financial irregularities in Kano State and other parts of Nigeria.

He said similar concerns had been found in other countries.

He stated that the FBI wanted to establish a long-term working relationship with the EFCC to investigate the matter and other related cases.

“We’ll like to work with the EFCC on this on a long-term basis, and we’ll be sharing information with you; not just getting information from you,” he said.

EFCC to trace funds

Bawa Kaltungo, the acting zonal director of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, received the delegation on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede.

Mr Kaltungo stated that the commission would investigate the allegations and trace the funds to the organisations that received them.

He explained that the investigators would determine how the money was spent and whether it was used for the purposes for which it was provided.

They will also establish whether any of the funds were mismanaged or diverted after the programmes were terminated, he said.

Mr Kaltungo said the investigation would cover all states where the affected organisations operated.

“The EFCC will work with the FBI to follow the financial trail and establish the facts surrounding the alleged diversion of the funds,” he noted.

The investigation comes months after the disruption of some U.S.-funded HIV services in Nigeria following the U.S. government’s decision to pause foreign assistance in 2025.

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The report stated that USAID had contributed approximately US$2·8 billion to the health care of Nigerians between 2022 and 2024.

UNAIDS stated in March 2025 that the disruption had affected HIV services in Nigeria, including community testing and services provided through one-stop centres.

More than 80 one-stop centres were affected by the funding disruption, according to the agency.

The suspension of the USAID funding has disrupted decades of progress in combating infectious diseases, improving maternal and child health, and strengthening Nigeria’s response to public health emergencies.

At the moment, some Nigerians with HIV are relying on herbal medicine and faith healers in order to suppress the virus.