ABUJA, Nigeria — The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering.
Sources within the anti-graft agency confirmed that Mr. Abdullahi was taken into custody in Abuja on Wednesday. The investigation reportedly centres on the suspected laundering of funds totalling approximately N500bn.
Investigation Underway
While the EFCC has not yet issued a formal press release, an official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the arrest. “We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria… he is currently in our custody,” the source stated.
Efforts to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, for an official comment remained unsuccessful as of Wednesday evening.
Profile: Mustapha Abdullahi
Mr. Abdullahi has been at the helm of the Energy Commission of Nigeria since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on 24 October 2023. His tenure as the head of the government agency, which is responsible for coordinating national energy policies, has now been overshadowed by this high-profile corruption probe.
The arrest marks a significant development in the anti-graft agency’s ongoing efforts to scrutinise the financial dealings of government-led parastatals. The ECN is a critical body tasked with the sustainable planning and promotion of Nigeria’s energy sector, and the sheer scale of the alleged fraud—N500bn—is expected to draw intense public scrutiny.
Further details regarding the specific nature of the laundering charges or potential co-conspirators are expected to emerge as the commission continues its interrogation.
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