Alleged N209m Expenditure: Why NIDCOM Will Not Be Blackmailed – Dabiri-Erewa

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) was in the spotlight recently   over a controversy that centred on an alleged ₦209.09 million the Commission reportedly spent on flights, accommodation, venues and other logistics for three diaspora-related events in 2023.

According to the commission’s spokesman Abdurahman Balogun, the report by Global Integrity Watch (GIW) against NIDCOM appears to have crossed the line  in the so- called anti- corruption fight and delved into  cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated claims made to undermine the  Commission and its chairman CEO, Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The report classified the observation as carrying risks of diversion and loss of public funds, recommended that NiDCOM’s chairman, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa account for the money before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committees adding that any amount found to be improperly spent be recovered and paid into the Treasury.

The report also stated that NiDCOM’s management had not responded to the audit query at the time of the auditors’ review, leaving the observation unresolved.

The reports further alleged that auditors were not provided with documents sufficient to verify the expenditure, adding that the documents said to be unavailable to the auditors included flight bookings, accommodation records, participant details, venue documentation, invitations, evidence of payment to a music artist, copies of stamped visa passports and attendance registers.

The reports cited  the Auditor-General’s Annual Report on the Non-Compliance /Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the financial year ended December 31, 2024, stressing that the events identified in that account of NIDCOM were the Global African Diaspora Symposium, National Diaspora Day celebration and Diaspora Merit Award in Abuja.

Balogun in a statement debunked the reports saying “this is definitely another attempt to blackmail and distract the commission and NIDCOM will not be distracted.”

He noted that NIDCOM will not  rush to respond to such baseless allegations, stressing that it will when formally informed and asked to report to the relevant agencies, particularly the National Assembly committees and the Accountant General of the Federations’ Office.

“In the meantime, we will not be dragged into an exchange with organizations and individuals who blackmail and extort MDAs.

“NIDCOM remains open and transparent in all its actions and will answer to the appropriate organizations when so asked,” the statement said.

The office further described the report as pathetic stressing that what is being presented as an anti -corruption crusade increasingly looks like a calculated witch hunt against Nigeria’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with NiDCOM and its Chairman, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri Erewa, deliberately placed at the centre of a campaign designed to create pressure and damage reputations.

The wider audit report, which was transmitted to the National Assembly in July 2026 and published in August, was described in national coverage as identifying control weaknesses across federal ministries, departments and agencies.

NiDCOM denounced the reports as handiwork of evil jobbers, adding that the report did not amount to a finding of wrongdoing by the agency and that it would not engage in an exchange with groups or individuals it accused of blackmailing and extortion in  ministries, departments and agencies.

The Commission said it remained open and transparent and would provide explanations and documents to the appropriate authorities when officially requested. It specifically mentioned the relevant National Assembly committees and the Auditor-General’s office.

In a more detailed clarification reported by The Sun, NiDCOM said documents relating to its 2023 activities were intact and would be made available to statutory oversight bodies.

NiDCOM said the Global African Diaspora event attracted participants from 16 countries and that the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States recognised its chairman, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, as a diaspora champion.

The Commission maintained that its activities were carried out despite limited resources and said some programmes required support from sponsors.

The Commission also criticised Global Integrity Watch, the organization associated with the online allegations, and questioned its motives and funding.

“The Public Accounts Committees and the Auditor-General’s office are the bodies positioned to examine the Commission’s explanations, authenticate supporting documents and to determine whether recovery or other administrative action is required.

“Until that process is completed, the ₦209.09 million matters should be reported as unresolved audit observation and allegation of inadequate supporting documentation, rather than as a proven case of embezzlement, the NIDCOM Statement added.