The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Eno Ubi Otu, the head of finance and accounts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for allegedly diverting over N25 billion in tax payments.
As of press time, the suspect who came at the commission in the early hours of Wednesday was still being interviewed.
According to a source, the arrest was part of a bigger probe into the NDDC’s forensic audit report.
Following claims of rampant corruption at the NDDC, President Muhammadu Buhari authorized a forensic examination of the organization in 2019.
This was owing to claims that some NDDC projects had been abandoned or were non-existent despite millions of naira being released for them.
On behalf of the president, the attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, received the NDDC forensic audit report in September 2021.
On December 30, 2021, the President stated that his government will collect “every kobo” mishandled or robbed from the commission, and that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
Godswill Akpabio, the Niger Delta minister, also said that the NDDC was regarded as an ATM where officials went to steal public monies.
Following the audit, contractors who had abandoned their work raced back to the site to avoid punishment by the EFCC.
Others were claimed to have returned any cash paid to them prior to leaving their contracts unfinished.
After reviewing the NDDC’s forensic report, the EFCC focused its searchlight on the errant contractors in accordance with the Federal Government’s directive.
The EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached for comment on Otu’s arrest.
