Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a staff member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Kelechi Benwosely Esimogu, over allegations of a large-scale financial scam linked to purported contract deals.
SaharaReporters gathered that Esimogu was arrested on Wednesday, around 9:30 p.m. at a popular hospitality spot in Wuse, Abuja, by operatives of the agency.
The suspect serves as the Group Pastor of Powercity International in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She was reportedly picked up without any incident and subsequently taken into custody for further questioning.
EFCC sources told SaharaReporters that the arrest followed a petition filed by some private companies alleging that the cleric obtained hundreds of millions of Naira under the pretext of securing lucrative contracts from NDDC, where she works.
According to the petitioners, Esimogu allegedly presented herself as having a strong influence within the commission and convinced company representatives that she could facilitate the award of high-value projects.
“The petitioners claimed that the suspect failed to carry out the agreed job and instead allegedly diverted the funds to political activities,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters.
“Several attempts by both the complainants and investigators to reach her proved abortive. We traced her location, but she was always evading arrest by frequently changing locations and lodging in different hotels.”
“The company wasn’t the only complainant. Other companies also lodged similar petitions bordering on alleged fraudulent conduct, prompting investigators to conduct a broader, more comprehensive investigation into the matter,” the source said.
Another source added, “Payments were reportedly made in tranches over a period of time. However, the promised contracts never materialised, prompting the company to write to us to investigate.
“We invited her several times, but she didn’t show up, making excuses. However, she has been moving around in her state, Imo, declaring her intention to get involved in politics and contest in the forthcoming election.
“So, investigators are also examining whether any proceeds from the alleged scheme were deployed in political mobilization efforts, including outreach to local stakeholders and influencers.”
When contacted, EFFC spokesperson Dele Oyewale told SaharaReporters to give him time to contact the “office”.
“Let me call the office; I will get back,” he said.
However, calls put across to him several hours after were not answered, nor returned.
NDDC was established by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
