The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the probe of the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi over alleged corruption. The probe which commenced a few weeks ago, according to reliable sources, saw Audi paying visits to the headquarters of the agency about three times.
Also, some of the Bureau De Change operators and contractors involved in the alleged contract scam were detained at some time.
Recalled that a group, Initiative for Integrity and Good Leadership had on January 24, 2024 petitioned the EFCC to probe Audi for alleged corruption.
In the petition signed by its Executive Director, Idi Sadiq said the group had reasons to believe that Audi was executing phantom projects.
According to a Source, “The EFCC investigation is currently ongoing into the alleged diversion of ₦7.5 billion by contractors working with commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, over a period of 5 days the entire amount that’s was shared to contractors account has been identified and linked to BDCs, who were invited and have been questioned. The contractors involved in the case are being called for questioning as the investigation progresses.
“The investigators discovered that payments were made to a total of 20 contractors, with a significant sum of ₦2 billion allocated to three major contractors who each own five companies. Each contractor received a retention fee of 5%. Letters of invitation have been sent to these contractors.
“All the contractors have been interviewed except for one woman who has been working tirelessly to avoid it. Who received over 1 billion, and all the funds were discovered to have been converted to USD.
“The contractors made a useful statement that led to the recovery of approximately ₦1 billion, which the Audi had given to them to avoid being invited.
“The contractors have been under pressure from the EFCC as they have stated that the operatives are so professional that there is nothing to hide, given that they have records at their fingertips.
“One of the contractors informs us that they are planning to start a protest at the NSA office to seek assistance, as they feel that he is the only senior official who can help them reach the CG. They applied for jobs as contractors, only to learn that the job was already executed on their behalf by the Director of Procurement, Victor Fayemi, and Anthony Akpan, depending on the contractor they are in touch with. They sent account numbers with individual names, which the investigators informed them are BDC.
“The contractor that is yet to come is the MD of Absolute Solutions, Cerise ltd, BNT arm who have been getting paid since the CG assume office in 2021 and have been using same BDC to exchange funds which she’s always informed that the jobs have been executed on her behalf. The BDC investigated so far include. Main one global and Double Spec Agro.
“Another contractor that received over 1 billion is Sotitrech Computers, Jikol Multipurpose, and have exchanged funds through One Al-Hikma communications and made some refunds.
“It was observed at NSCDC that these payments were meant for jobs that had already been executed, but the contractors had not been paid. If the investigators request the goods, they will be found in the stores, but the main contractors who supplied them were not paid.”
Additionally, payments for the elections were meant for the staff, but sources at the NSCDC claim that the staff were underpaid compared to staff at other sister agencies.
The EFCC wrote a letter inviting officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for questioning.
Officers scheduled to be questioned by EFCC starting from 2 May 2024 are:
- Victor Olanrewaju fayemi
- Anthony Akpan Uwen
- Patrick Babatunde
- Comfort Danladi
- Akibo Michael Olusola
- Umaru Usman Karshi
- Adewale Kukoyi
- Joseph Ajayi Ibitulo
- A.A Jonathan
- Paul Ahepa