The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission formally handed over N279 million in recovered funds to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts formerly known as the National Theatre Lagos on Friday March 6, 2026, at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 office in Ikoyi.
The story behind the recovery stretches back to 2009. Kabir Yusuf, who was then serving as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, submitted a petition to the EFCC accusing Prince Benjamin Apugo and others of irregularities in the award and execution of a contract at the facility.
The contract, valued at N299,707,828, had been awarded through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation to Techno Exportstroy Nigeria Limited for the construction of five gates, sand filling and reclamation works at the theatre.
The contractor executed only N55,910,744 worth of work leaving the vast majority of the project undone while the excess payment made was never refunded. Investigators also found that Yusuf Ahmed Atai, who served as Acting General Manager of the National Theatre at the time, had released N334,229,794.24 to the contractor, significantly exceeding the original contract sum.
The suspect was subsequently charged and prosecuted. During the course of the trial a total of N279 million was recovered from the defendant on behalf of the National Theatre.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede represented by Acting Zonal Director and Assistant Commander of the EFCC Bawa Usman Kaltungo made clear that recovering the money was only the first step.
“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,” he said.
Olukoyede added that the EFCC would periodically monitor projects funded by the recovered money. “We will be visiting from time to time to monitor the progress of work,” he added.
Receiving the bank drafts on behalf of the Centre, Head of Finance and Accounts Jatto Kabiru expressed gratitude and made a public pledge. “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.
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts renamed by President Tinubu in July 2024 in honour of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka underwent a N68 billion restoration funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Bankers’ Committee before reopening in 2024 as a flagship institution for Nigeria’s cultural and creative economy.
Freedom Friday’s recovery adds another chapter to the facility’s long history of anti-corruption scrutiny. In 2017, the EFCC arrested four directors of the institution over alleged embezzlement and failure to remit revenue to the Treasury Single Account.
For an institution that has waited nearly two decades to see this money returned, Friday’s handover is both a vindication and a warning that misappropriated public funds, remain firmly within the EFCC’s sights.