The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating ten senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for an alleged fraud amounting to N7.5 billion. Additionally, the EFCC has summoned ten contractors believed to be involved in the scheme.
On April 26, 2024, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede penned a letter to the NSCDC Commandant General, inviting the ten implicated NSCDC officers for questioning. The scheduled interrogations were set to commence from May 2, 2024, onwards, as per documents exclusively obtained by our correspondent.
The NSCDC officers under investigation are Victor Olanrewaju Fayemi, Anthony Akpan Uwen, Patrick Babatunde, Comfort Danladi, Akibi Michael Olusola, Umaru Usman Karshi, Adewale Kukoyi, Joseph Ajayi Ibitulo, Mrs. A.A. Jonathan, and Paul Ahepa, as revealed in the EFCC’s invitation.
The alleged fraud, amounting to N7.5 billion, is purportedly linked to multiple contractors, with funds traced to certain Bureau de Change operators through which the NSCDC officers allegedly laundered the money. Confidential sources familiar with the matter disclosed these details to our correspondent, although not authorized to speak publicly due to the sensitivity of the issue.
According to one source, the EFCC’s investigation has identified payments directed to 20 contractors, with N2 billion allocated to three primary contractors, each owning five companies. These contractors received a retention fee of five percent. The EFCC has extended invitations to all contractors for questioning.
During interrogations, contractors disclosed valuable information leading to the recovery of approximately N1 billion by the EFCC. However, one contractor, who allegedly received N1 billion, has yet to comply with the EFCC’s summons.
Further revelations suggest that NSCDC staff members were allegedly underpaid for recent election duties compared to counterparts in sister agencies. It’s reported that NSCDC officers were handed over to the EFCC at the directive of NSCDC CG, Ahmed Audi, following a letter from EFCC Chairman Olukoyede requesting their release for interrogation.
Efforts to reach spokespersons for both the EFCC and NSCDC, Dele Oyewale and Babawale Afolabi respectively, for comments were unsuccessful. Afolabi, when contacted earlier, stated he was unaware of the situation.
