Breaking The Law: Nigeria’s Finance Ministry Routes Over ₦208 Million in IMF, World Bank Travel Payments Through Single Beneficiary Mariam Lawal

Secrets Reporters

A review of official government payment records by SecretsReporters has uncovered more than ₦208 million in Federal Ministry of Finance disbursements for officials attending international financial meetings, with all the payments routed through a single beneficiary, raising questions about transparency, internal financial controls and compliance with Nigeria’s public financial management framework.

Findings by SecretsReporters show that between April 8 and April 28, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters processed multiple payments relating to officials’ participation in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., as well as expenses connected with the 2025 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The payment records consistently identify Mariam Lawal as the beneficiary for the transactions, rather than the individual officials named in the payment descriptions or an identifiable government-approved travel management company.

The payment pattern raises questions about the ministry’s payment structure and whether applicable financial procedures governing public expenditure were fully documented.

Documents reviewed by SecretsReporters include payments of ₦32.37 million for the Honourable Minister of Finance’s participation in the 2026 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, ₦29.52 million for Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Sanyade Okoli, ₦15.43 million for Bright Eriga, ₦18.46 million for another official attending the same meeting, and ₦19.98 million for estacode and airfare relating to the 2025 African Development Bank Annual Meetings.

Repeated Payment Entries Raise Questions

An examination of the payment records also identified instances where substantially similar transactions appeared more than once. Payments relating to the 2026 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings were first recorded on April 11, 2026, before comparable entries appeared again on April 28, 2026, carrying similar descriptions, the same beneficiary and, in some instances, identical payment reference numbers.

The records reviewed do not contain explanations for the repeated entries.

Ordinarily, repeated payment entries involving identical descriptions and payment references would require reconciliation through supporting accounting records, payment vouchers and internal audit documentation to establish whether they represent legitimate accounting adjustments or actual disbursements.

One of the most notable features of the transactions is the repeated use of a single beneficiary for payments relating to multiple government officials.

Under the Federal Government Financial Regulations, public officers are not allowed to receive payments on behalf of another staff and huge payments must be considered as contracts.

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) payment framework is designed to ensure transparency, traceability and accountability in the processing of public funds by requiring proper documentation and identifiable beneficiaries throughout the payment chain.

The payment records reviewed by SecretsReporters, however, do not indicate:
* the official capacity in which Mariam Lawal received the payments.

* whether she served as an authorised imprest holder, finance officer or travel coordinator

* whether the funds were subsequently transferred to the officials named in the payment descriptions

* whether she procured airline tickets, accommodation and conference logistics on behalf of the ministry; or

* whether the advances and estacodes were retired in accordance with the Financial Regulations.
Without those supporting records, the basis upon which a single beneficiary received payments on behalf of multiple officials remains unclear and questionable.

Section 16 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, requires public procurement to be conducted in a manner that promotes transparency, competitiveness, accountability and value for money.

The payment records reviewed by SecretsReporters do not indicate:
* the travel management company engaged for the trips;
* whether an existing framework contract was utilised;
* whether any procurement process was undertaken where required;
* whether Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) due process requirements applied; or
* whether post-travel retirement documents were submitted after the officials returned.
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The records also do not explain the approval process through which multiple payments for different officials were routed through a single beneficiary.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 requires public institutions to promote prudent management of government resources and ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. In addition, the Federal Government Financial Regulations require that advances and imprests be properly authorised, adequately documented and retired within the prescribed period following the completion of official assignments.
Where public funds are used to procure travel-related goods or services, the Public Procurement Act, 2007 further requires compliance with principles of transparency, accountability and value for money.