Nigeria’s EFCC Detains Former Buhari Aide Over Alleged $35 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Timber Kesiye Wabote, a former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), over allegations of fraud tied to the failed Brass Project in Bayelsa State. This marks Wabote’s second detention in two weeks, with the latest occurring on Wednesday, according to The Nation.

The investigation centers around the misappropriation of $35 million meant for the development of an Energy Infrastructure Park in the Okpoama Community of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa. The park was planned to include a refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data center, and tank farm, designed to process 2,000 barrels of oil per day.

Sources report that the project, funded in part by the NCDMB under Wabote’s leadership, was abandoned in December 2020, despite significant financial backing. Allegations suggest that the $35 million allocated for the project was misused, leaving little evidence of progress at the site.

The case also involves Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, who is accused of money laundering, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. EFCC sources claim Wabote approved the payment to Akindele, who subsequently failed to deliver on the project.

Preliminary investigations reveal that during Wabote’s tenure at NCDMB (2016-2023), the board financed 17 different projects, including the Brass Free Trade Zone initiative, but many allegedly yielded minimal results.

Wabote’s latest detention follows a search of his residence in Abuja. EFCC officials also reportedly seized his passport and other travel documents to prevent his departure from the country as investigations continue.

An EFCC insider stated:

“Wabote appeared before the commission for further questioning, and we decided to detain him in view of the evidence against him. Our operatives also searched his residence in line with Standard Operating Procedure.”