Alleged $35m Fraud: EFFC Grills Former NCDMB Secretary, Kesiye Wabote
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday seized the traveling passport and detained a former Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote for alleged $35 million Brass Project fraud.
His residence in Abuja was also searched by operatives of the commission.
For the second time in two weeks, Wabote has been detained.
A source within the EFCC, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Wabote appeared before the commission for further questioning and we decided to detain him in view of the evidence against him.
“At this bend, it has also become necessary to seize his passport and other travelling documents pending the conclusion of investigations.
“Our operatives also searched his residence in line with Standard Operating Procedure.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “When Waribote came for preliminary questioning, we accorded him enough respect. But he went to town with different stories.
“We will lay all the findings before the public for them to know how the fraud was committed. We don’t engage in braggadocio.”
Wabote was picked up following the arrest of the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million public funds.
According to investigation by the commission, Akindele, who was the promoter of the Energy Infrastructure Park financed by the NCDMB in Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, initially mooted the idea of the project to the Board.
It was gathered that the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35 million.
Wabote was the Executive Secretary of NCDMB at that time.
He was the Executive Secretary of NCDMB between 2016 and 2023.
A brief on the investigation reads: “NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2000 barrel per day (BPD), Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.
“Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum paid to him. “
“Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including 2000 barrel per day, BPD, Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, FTZ, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.”
