The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed how the commission stopped a contractor executing power project from installing sub-standard transmission lines in 2024.
This is contained in a statement on Thursday in Abujah, by the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
Oyewale said that Olukoyede made the disclosure, when the Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (MEMSA), Mr Olusegun Adesayo, paid him a courtesy visit at the commission’s corporate headquarters on Wednesday.
According to Olukoyede, the commission intervened in 2024 to stop a contractor mobilised by the Ministry of Power from executing a contract with fake and substandard transmission lines.
“The contractor was investigated by the EFCC and found to have imported fake transmission lines which could have posed danger to the entire nation.
“We wrote to the ministry to blacklist the contractor after our investigation confirmed that he imported fake and substandard power transmission lines for the execution of a contract given to him.
“This intervention by the commission saved the nation potential disaster and possible loss of lives and valuables.”
The EFCC boss assured the MEMSA delegation of the readiness of the commission to work with it in ensuring better electricity supply for the nation.
“We believe that we can work together to improve electricity supply in Nigeria, and ensure that all key stakeholders in the industry play according to the rules and laws guiding the industry.
“I believe when we do this, we will see some improvement in power supply in Nigeria. Our mandate covers economic sabotage, not only financial crimes,” he said.
He also urged the delegation to pay special attention to procurement and contract fraud, assuring that the EFCC had adequate competence in those areas that would be of help to the Agency.
Earlier in his remarks, Adesayo said that the visit was to forge collaboration with the commission with a view to ensuring safety standards in the power industry.
He also said that it was to emphasise the commitment of his Agency to transparency and accountability.
Adesayo therefore sought the EFCC’s collaboration in the areas of intelligence sharing, procurement regularities, investigation of cases of substandard electrical materials, contract abuses and regulatory issues, as well as public sensitisation and capacity building.
“We recognise that effective regulation and anti-corruption enforcement is very important, therefore we want a coordinated effort to safeguard all our public infrastructure and natural resources.
“We also seek your guidance on strengthening our internal control mechanisms,” he said.
He assured the EFCC chairman of internal reforms in MEMSA that would see to improved probity in the agency and commitment that aligned with the federal government’s anti-corruption agenda.
