*Former Executive Secretary of NCDMB arrested, detained
*This is as EFCC beams searchlights on other directors!
*They are alleged to be involved in fraud concerning $35m Brass project
*Project is related to failed refinery for which $35m was allocated
By Our Correspondent with agency report
Former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged $35 million fraud involving the Brass project.
Giving reasons for Wabote’s arrest and his subsequent detention in EFCC Abuja facility, credible sources which spoke to Nigerian Pilot alleged that the development is connected to a failed refinery project for which $35 million was allocated.
According to the sources, Wabote’s arrest followed the detention of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, who is facing allegations of misappropriation, money laundering, and diversion of $35 million in public funds.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Akindele, the initiator of the Energy Infrastructure Park project, received financing from the NCDMB for its development in Okpoama Community, Brass LGA, Bayelsa State.
The project was reportedly adopted by the NCDMB, which provided counterpart funding of $35 million. Wabote served as the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB from 2016 to 2023, overseeing the board’s involvement in the project.
“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD) refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre, and tank farm at the Brass Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Okpoama Community, Brass LGA, Bayelsa State.
“Since December 2020, when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with minimal progress, despite the substantial funds provided.
”Preliminary findings indicate that under Wabote’s leadership, the NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including a 2,000 BPD refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre, and tank farm within the Brass FTZ”, the report added.
That is not all. This newspaper gathered that out of the total sum of $35m, only the sum of $10m was invested, which was better than Bayelsa’s $4m for the 2,000 capacity.
It is also said that he paid a Dubai contractor the sum of $2.7m. We gathered that the project would have cost the Federal Government $4m. Yet another project called Walter Smith Refinery in Imo State is supposed to cater for 5,000bpd.
As the sources said, “these are the reasons why EFCC picked Wabote. These allegations against Wabote are weighty and why he has been in the EFCC cell.”