The Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking (NACAT) has accused the chief executive officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, of alleged contract fraud and has called on President Bola Tinubu to authorise a comprehensive investigation.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Fejiro Oliver, chairman of NACAT, alleged that the Energy Commission secretly awarded multiple contracts in violation of the Public Procurement Act, which mandates transparency and open, competitive bidding.
“For too long, corruption has been the cancer eating deep into our national fabric, weakening public institutions, draining national resources, sabotaging development, and eroding citizens’ confidence in governance,” Oliver said.
“Today, we raise the alarm over grave and well-documented findings pointing to systemic abuse of public office within the Energy Commission of Nigeria.”
According to NACAT, the alleged irregularities were carried out under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi. Oliver said the “scale, coordination, and brazenness” of the transactions raised serious red flags that should not be ignored in a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
He stressed that the allegations were not driven by sentiment, vendetta, or politics, but by documentary evidence and a commitment to accountability.
“Our organisation, the Network Against Corruption and Anti-Drug Trafficking (NACAT), has uncovered overwhelming evidence revealing a disturbing pattern of suspected corruption, contract splitting, embezzlement of public funds, and gross abuse of office involving the illegal and fraudulent award and payment of contracts to five companies owned and controlled by the same individuals, without adherence to due process and in blatant violation of extant laws,” Oliver said.
He cited provisions of the Public Procurement Act, noting that Section 24(1) mandates open competitive bidding for all procurements of goods and services, while Section 25 requires public advertisement of bids in national newspapers, official websites, and procurement journals to ensure transparency and value for money.
NACAT alleged that these statutory provisions were flagrantly ignored by the ECN leadership.
According to the group’s findings, on October 23, 2024, the commission allegedly awarded and paid ₦103,415,184.80 to DOAD Contractors Ltd, a company registered on November 6, 2023.
On the same day, ECN was said to have paid ₦57,892,562.77 as a 30 per cent mobilisation fee to Bajaj Modupeola Empire Ltd for solar streetlight projects in Ogun and Ekiti states, with a total contract value of ₦192,975,209.23, which was later fully paid.
Also on October 23, 2024, the commission allegedly paid ₦57,865,529.30 to B&H Dynamic Global Services Ltd as mobilisation for similar solar projects in Edo and Delta states, valued at ₦192,885,097.67.
NACAT further alleged that on October 21, 2024, ECN paid ₦57,967,340.51 to BMU Construction Company Ltd for solar streetlight projects in Kebbi State, valued at ₦193,224,468.37.
On the same day, another ₦57,907,514.61 was allegedly paid to Dehanzel Nig Ltd for solar projects in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states, valued at ₦193,025,048.70.
Oliver noted that all five companies were registered within a single week and shared the same directors, a development he described as evidence of a coordinated scheme to circumvent procurement thresholds and facilitate contract splitting.
He further alleged that the companies had no verifiable track record, yet were paid hundreds of millions of naira within ten months of registration, with payments made within a two-day window.
According to NACAT, preliminary findings suggest that the contracts were not executed and that the funds were allegedly diverted for personal interests.
The group urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Bureau of Public Procurement to conduct independent investigations into the commission’s contract processes.
Oliver also appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that any probe into the allegations is transparent and protects the integrity of public institutions.
Efforts to obtain a response from Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi were unsuccessful, as he did not reply to enquiries as of press time.