EFCC Arrests DG Energy Commission Abdullahi Over Alleged N500bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences involving more than N500 billion.

Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday and is currently in the anti-graft agency’s custody for further investigation.

He was appointed DG and CEO of the agency by President Bola Tinubu in October 2023, after working for more than 10 years at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

An EFCC source, who confirmed the arrest on condition of anonymity, said the agency’s operatives arrested him and that he will spend some time in its custody.

According to the source, “the energy commission director general was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday and is in the custody of the EFCC.

“Investigators are grilling him over alleged money laundering involving more than N500 billion, and he is expected to spend the night at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.”

Recall that in December 2025, the Network Against Corruption and Drug Trafficking (NACAT) had petitioned Tinubu, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged corruption in the commission.

NACAT accused Abdullahi of engaging in a “well-coordinated and brazen scheme” to award and pay for solar streetlight contracts worth several hundred million dollars to five companies allegedly owned and controlled by the same individuals.

The anti-graft CSO had alleged that all five companies were registered within a single week in late October and early November 2023, shared similar addresses in Abuja, and allegedly had the same directors.

It also alleged that Nigeria’s procurement laws were brazenly violated in the award of the contracts, adding that the action is a betrayal of public trust.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, was not available for comments at the time of this report.

It should be noted that this is coming after the EFCC secured the conviction of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a N33.8 billion fraud case.