Former Buhari Aide Detained by EFCC over Alleged $35 Million Fraud Scandal
Former Aide to Buhari Detained by EFCC in Connection to Alleged $35 Million Fraud Scandal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its probe into the alleged misappropriation of $35 million tied to the Brass Project, a major energy and infrastructure venture intended to spur economic development in Bayelsa State’s oil-producing region.
This project was planned as a high-impact investment aimed at providing both direct employment and boosting local commerce through increased energy production and distribution capabilities.
Among those central to the investigation is Timber Kesiye Wabote, who served as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) from 2016 to 2023. During his time with the NCDMB, Wabote was instrumental in overseeing initiatives aimed at promoting local content and ensuring Nigerian involvement in critical oil and gas infrastructure projects. The Brass Project was one such initiative, a collaborative effort between the NCDMB and Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, which received a substantial counterpart investment from the NCDMB. However, despite these funds, allegations have emerged that the project has seen little development, prompting concerns about how these funds were managed.
According to the EFCC’s findings, $35 million was allocated to Atlantic International for the construction of various infrastructure components within the Energy Infrastructure Park in Okpoama Community, Brass Local Government Area. The ambitious project was designed to include a refinery with a production capacity of 2,000 barrels per day, as well as a jetty, gas and power plants, a data center, and a tank farm. These developments were expected to create jobs, reduce fuel import costs, and improve the economic vitality of the surrounding communities. However, since receiving full payment for the project in December 2020, Atlantic International, led by Managing Director Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, has reportedly abandoned the project site with little visible progress.
In recent weeks, the EFCC has conducted a series of interviews and detained Wabote twice for questioning. His current detention comes as EFCC investigators gather additional evidence regarding his role in the alleged misappropriation of funds. In a further step to ensure compliance, the EFCC has seized Wabote’s travel documents to prevent any attempts at evading investigation. Operatives also searched his residence in Abuja, reportedly uncovering documents that may shed further light on the financial flows associated with the Brass Project. “We decided to detain him in view of the evidence against him. His passport has also been seized pending the conclusion of investigations,” a source within the EFCC told The Nation.
The Brass Project case reflects the EFCC’s broader mandate to curb corruption and enforce accountability across Nigeria’s public and private sectors, especially in industries as vital as energy. As Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agency, the EFCC has prioritized investigations in oil and gas-related cases where local communities could benefit directly from improved infrastructure. By intensifying scrutiny on high-profile figures like Wabote, who held a prominent role in overseeing projects meant to foster local content in the oil and gas industry, the EFCC signals its commitment to reducing financial malpractice and ensuring that public funds are used transparently and effectively.
This case has also drawn public attention to the broader issue of accountability within the NCDMB. Originally established to promote local participation in Nigeria’s lucrative oil and gas sector, the NCDMB plays a pivotal role in managing investments directed toward infrastructure development in oil-producing regions. Wabote’s leadership at the NCDMB, which spanned nearly seven years, was largely focused on initiatives to enhance Nigeria’s economic self-reliance through locally managed projects. However, this investigation raises serious questions about the oversight and management practices within the board during his tenure.
Public reaction to this investigation has been mixed. Some have expressed disappointment, hoping the Brass Project would serve as a model of successful collaboration and economic upliftment for Bayelsa State. Others have underscored the need for rigorous scrutiny of financial transactions to safeguard the integrity of projects funded through public investments. Meanwhile, local community leaders in Okpoama and other areas expected to benefit from the Brass Project have expressed concerns about the project’s future, urging the government to provide clarity on the timeline and status of the stalled development.
As the investigation unfolds, the EFCC is expected to conduct further interviews with individuals linked to the Brass Project and NCDMB, with the goal of tracing the allocation and utilization of funds. This case may ultimately influence how similar projects are monitored and managed, potentially leading to stricter regulatory controls to ensure that such development funds deliver tangible results for the communities they are meant to support. The EFCC’s findings could set a precedent for future handling of similar cases, emphasizing transparency and accountability as cornerstones of Nigeria’s economic growth strategies.
