The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed how the commission intervened in 2024 to stop a contractor engaged by the Federal Ministry of Power from executing a contract with fake and substandard power transmission lines that could have threatened the nation’s electricity infrastructure.
Olukoyede made this known in Abuja while receiving the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Olusegun Adesayo, during a visit to the commission’s headquarters.
He said EFCC investigations confirmed that the contractor had imported fake transmission lines meant for a government project, prompting the commission to write to the ministry to blacklist the contractor.
The EFCC boss noted that the intervention saved the country from a potential disaster, including possible loss of lives and property.
He also assured NEMSA of the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the agency to strengthen transparency, accountability and safety standards in the electricity sector.
Meanwhile, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Maryann Anenih, admitted fresh financial documents in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over alleged N31 billion fraud.
The EFCC alleges that Mamman and seven others were involved in fraudulent transactions amounting to N31,070,541,349.64, with the case adjourned to April 16, May 11 and June 4 for continuation of trial.