By Wellington Jopelo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged N500bn fraud and money laundering case.
Sources within the anti-graft agency disclosed that Abdullahi was taken into custody in Abuja on Wednesday and questioned for several hours by investigators handling the high-profile probe linked to the commission’s financial activities.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, the alleged fraud involves suspicious financial transactions running into hundreds of billions of naira, with the EFCC reportedly examining contract awards, fund disbursements and other transactions connected to the agency.
An EFCC source said the Energy Commission boss remained in custody while interrogations continued, describing the case as one of the agency’s major ongoing corruption investigations.
The development comes barely a day after a Federal High Court sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a separate N33.8bn fraud case tied to power sector projects.
However, Abdullahi has denied reports claiming he was arrested, insisting through a statement issued by his media aide that he only honoured an invitation from the EFCC in line with due process and respect for constituted authorities.
He urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims while investigations continue, stressing that the allegations remain subject to lawful investigation and legal process.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in October 2023, and the latest allegations have now thrown the agency into fresh public scrutiny amid intensified anti-corruption crackdowns across government institutions.