The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has transferred N279 million recovered from a fraud investigation to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, previously known as the National Theatre Lagos.
The handover took place on Friday, the 6th of March, 2026, during a brief ceremony at the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi.
The commission said the return of the money forms part of its drive to ensure that funds taken illegally from public institutions are recovered and restored to the appropriate organisations.
According to the EFCC, the case dates back to 2009 when Kabir Yusuf, then General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, petitioned the commission. In his petition, he accused Prince Benjamin Apugo and others of irregularities connected with a project contract at the theatre complex.
The petition stated that a contract worth N299,707,828.00 was awarded through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited. The project covered the construction of five gates and sand filling as well as reclamation work within the National Theatre premises.
Findings from the investigation showed that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, authorised and paid N334,229,794.24 to the contractor. The payment exceeded the approved contract sum by N34,521,966.00.
Investigators also found that the contractor carried out only N55,910,744.00 worth of work, leaving a large portion of the project undone with an unexecuted balance valued at N243,799,132.25.
The EFCC also discovered that the extra payment of N34,521,966.00 made to the contractor was never refunded.
Following the investigation, the suspect was arraigned in court for prosecution.
During the court process, the commission succeeded in recovering N279,000,000.00 from the defendant on behalf of the complainant.
The recovered sum was later presented to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.
Speaking at the event, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, said the commission remains committed to ensuring accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the management of the centre to apply the funds strictly for the intended purpose.
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“We cannot suffer to recover this money for you and then have it used for purposes other than what it is meant for after receiving it from us.
“We have already asked you to tell us what you intend to do with it, and you should know that we will keep an eye on how it is utilised. Nigerians have always sought to know what the Commission does with recovered funds,” He said.
Olukoyede added that the commission would monitor how the money is applied to projects.
“We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work. Our eagle eyes will be watching the pace of work. Do not tamper with the recovered funds. Use them for the benefit of Nigeria and all of us,” he added.
Receiving the bank drafts for the centre, the Head of Finance and Accounts at the National Theatre, Jatto Kabiru, expressed appreciation to the commission for recovering the money.
He also assured that the funds would be properly managed.
“We are most grateful for this remarkable feat of recovering this amount of money for us. The EFCC is one of Nigeria’s most effective and reliable law enforcement agencies. I assure you that the money will be used judiciously,” he said.