By Paul Joseph
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 involving purported contract deals running into hundreds of millions of naira.
According to Sahara reporters on Thursday, Esimogu was apprehended on Wednesday night at about 9:30 p.m. at a popular hospitality spot in Wuse, Abuja.
She was reportedly taken into custody without resistance and she is currently undergoing interrogation by EFCC operatives.
The suspect, who also serves as a cleric and Group Pastor of Powercity International in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is being investigated following multiple petitions filed by private companies accusing her of fraudulently obtaining funds under the guise of facilitating lucrative contracts within the NDDC.
Investigators disclosed that Esimogu allegedly presented herself as a highly connected insider within the commission, convincing company executives that she could secure high-value project approvals on their behalf.
A source within the anti-graft agency revealed that the funds were paid in tranches over a period of time, but the promised contracts never materialised.
“The petitioners alleged that after receiving the money, she failed to deliver on the agreements and instead diverted the funds,” the source said, adding that some of the money may have been channelled into political activities.
The case appears to be widening, as more companies have reportedly come forward with similar complaints, prompting the EFCC to expand its investigation into what officials describe as a “pattern of fraudulent conduct.”
Sources further disclosed that efforts to arrest the suspect earlier were unsuccessful, as she allegedly evaded investigators by frequently changing locations and moving between different states, including Imo, where she was said to have been engaging in political consultations ahead of upcoming elections.
“We invited her several times, but she did not honour the invitations,” another source said. “At some point, she became difficult to trace, which raised further suspicion and necessitated covert tracking.”
Investigators are now examining whether proceeds from the alleged fraud were used to finance political mobilisation activities, including outreach to local stakeholders and influencers.
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said he would need time to obtain official details on the case but had yet to provide further clarification as of press time.
The development has once again drawn attention to long-standing concerns about corruption within the NDDC, an agency established in 2000 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo to drive development in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Over the years, the commission has faced repeated allegations of financial mismanagement, including thousands of abandoned projects and billions of naira in questioned expenditures, raising concerns about accountability and governance in the region.
Observers say the outcome of the investigation into Esimogu could further test ongoing efforts by anti-corruption agencies to restore public confidence and enforce accountability within key government institutions.
As of now, no formal charges have been announced, but EFCC officials indicate that the investigation is ongoing and could lead to prosecution if sufficient evidence is established.
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