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EFCC arrest in Abuja: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission detains NDDC staff over fraud allegations.
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Multi-million contract scam: Suspect allegedly collected funds under false promises of securing NDDC contracts.
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Investigation deepens: Funds reportedly diverted, possible link to political activities under probe.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a staff member of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Pastor Kelechi Benwosely Esimogu, over alleged involvement in a large-scale contract fraud.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended on Wednesday night at a location in Wuse, Abuja, and taken into custody for questioning without resistance.
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According to sources, the arrest followed multiple petitions from private companies accusing Esimogu of collecting hundreds of millions of naira under the pretext of facilitating lucrative contracts within the commission.
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She was said to have leveraged alleged influence in the agency to convince victims, but the promised deals never materialised.
Investigators further alleged that the funds were diverted, with some possibly channelled into political activities. Efforts to invite her for questioning reportedly failed prior to her arrest, as she was said to have frequently changed locations.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, could not immediately confirm details of the operation as of the time of filing this report.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, established in 2000 to drive development in the Niger Delta, has faced longstanding allegations of corruption and mismanagement.