The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences involving about ₦500 billion.
According to a report by News Point Nigeria, Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday and is currently being held by the anti-graft agency. The report quoted an unnamed EFCC source as saying investigators are probing financial transactions linked to funds allegedly running into ₦500 billion.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences,” the source was quoted as saying. “He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money is to the tune of ₦500bn.”
As of the time of this report, EFCC had not issued an official public statement confirming the arrest. The report also said efforts to reach the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Abdullahi as Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in October 2023. The State House announcement at the time described the appointment as part of the administration’s plan to strengthen the energy sector.
The allegation comes amid renewed public attention on corruption cases in Nigeria’s power and energy sector. On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced former Power Minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison after convicting him over a ₦33.8 billion fraud case prosecuted by the EFCC.
