EFCC Detains Energy Commission DG Over Alleged ₦500bn Fraud

ABUJA – Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested and detained the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, in connection with a massive ₦500 billion money laundering allegation.

​The arrest, which occurred on Wednesday in Abuja, has sent shockwaves through the federal energy sector. Sources within the anti-graft agency, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Abdullahi is currently being interrogated at the commission’s headquarters.

​Details of the Allegation

​The investigation reportedly centers on a series of financial transactions and alleged diversions totaling approximately ₦500 billion. While specific details of the laundering scheme remain under wraps, investigators are said to be scrutinizing the commission’s accounts and contract awards since Abdullahi took office.

​”The Director-General is in our custody and is providing useful information. The scale of the alleged fraud is significant, estimated at ₦500 billion, and we are committed to following the money trail to its conclusion,” the source stated.

​Profile of the Suspect

​Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, a chartered engineer and member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on October 24, 2023. Prior to leading the ECN, he served as the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

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​His appointment was initially seen as a move to revitalize Nigeria’s renewable energy and energy policy framework. However, this latest development places the agency under intense public and legal scrutiny.

​Broader Context

​The arrest comes at a high-pressure moment for the EFCC. Just today, a court sentenced the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison for a ₦33.8 billion fraud case. The arrest of the ECN boss suggests a widening net in the government’s crackdown on financial irregularities within the energy and power sectors.

​Efforts to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, for an official statement were unsuccessful at the time of publication. The Energy Commission of Nigeria has also yet to release a formal response regarding the detention of its principal.