Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a staff member of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Kelechi Benwosely Esimogu, over allegations of a large-scale financial scam involving purported contract deals worth hundreds of millions of naira.
According to reports, Esimogu was apprehended on Wednesday night at a hospitality venue in Wuse, Abuja, and taken into custody without resistance. She is currently being interrogated by EFCC officials as investigations continue
The suspect, who is also a cleric and Group Pastor at Powercity International in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is under investigation following multiple petitions from private companies. The firms allege that she obtained substantial sums of money under the pretext of facilitating lucrative contracts within the NDDC.
Investigators say Esimogu allegedly presented herself as a well-connected insider capable of securing high-value project approvals. Company executives were reportedly persuaded to pay funds in instalments, with the expectation that contracts would be awarded in their favour.
However, sources within the anti-graft agency claim that the promised deals never materialised. “The petitioners alleged that after receiving the money, she failed to deliver and instead diverted the funds,” a source said, adding that some of the proceeds may have been channelled into political activities.
The case appears to be widening, with more companies reportedly coming forward with similar complaints. This has prompted the EFCC to broaden its investigation into what officials describe as a “pattern of fraudulent conduct.”
Sources also disclosed that earlier attempts to arrest the suspect were unsuccessful, as she allegedly evaded investigators by frequently changing locations and moving between states, including Imo, where she was said to have been involved in political consultations ahead of forthcoming elections.
“We invited her several times, but she did not respond. At some point, she became difficult to trace, which raised further suspicion and necessitated covert tracking,” another source revealed.
Investigators are now examining whether funds linked to the alleged fraud were used to finance political mobilisation activities, including outreach to local stakeholders.
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said he would need time to obtain full details of the case and had yet to issue an official statement as of press time.
The development has once again drawn attention to long-standing concerns about corruption within the NDDC, an agency established in 2000 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo to drive development in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Over the years, the commission has faced repeated allegations of financial mismanagement, including abandoned projects and billions of naira in disputed expenditure — raising persistent questions about accountability and governance.
Observers say the outcome of the investigation could test ongoing efforts by anti-corruption agencies to restore public confidence in key institutions.
As of now, no formal charges have been filed, but EFCC officials say the investigation is ongoing and could lead to prosecution if sufficient evidence is established.
