Court forfeits properties of REA ‘Directors’ Suleiman Bulkwang, Abdullahi Gambo over alleged N742 million fraud 

Sambo was said to have benefited N742 million.

Justice Obiora Egwatu granted the orders after the legal team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), led by Ekene Iheanacho SAN, applied via an ex parte motion that the interim forfeiture order be granted.

“An interim order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in the Schedule below, which are reasonably suspected to be derived from proceeds of unlawful activities,” the motion partly reads.

The seven properties forfeited include a 1-hectare plot of land in Ungwan Rere, Lafia Government Area, Nasarawa State (linked to Sambo), and four units of two-bedroom flats in Kubwa, Abuja (linked to Suleiman Bulkwang).

EFCC court filings stated that Mr. Sambo, in March 2023, allegedly pre-informed staff of the REA department that monies were going to be paid into their bank accounts, which they had to remit for a supposed “project supervision and monitoring.” 

“Mr. Sambo directed the staff in his department to execute their roles on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform, and he ultimately approved and effected the fraudulent payments totaling N1,481,389,518.11,” the Commission stated.

“The payments were done without the approval of the Managing Director and also without the prerequisite preparation and audit of payment vouchers by the audit department as required,” the Commission added.

“Mr. Sambo personally benefited the total sum of N742,486,700.00 from REA through his staff, most of which was used to acquire identified properties through his ally Danmama Mohammed,” the Commission stated.

At the court session, EFCC lawyer Mary Babatunde moved the ex parte motion and urged the court to grant her prayers.

The REA is the implementing agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for the electrification of rural and unserved communities.

The agency is under the Federal Ministry of Power.

In March 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the REA, Ahmad, alongside three Executive Directors of the agency, from office following findings during a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the REA.

Recall that EFCC had in November 2024 arraigned Suleiman Garba Bulkwang before the Federal High Court in Abuja over a five-count charge of alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to N223,412,909.

Several other REA officials are currently being prosecuted in different courts.