Crime
EFCC Allegedly Covers Up N7bn Fraud Involving Top NCAA Officials
A scandal has emerged as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) faces accusations of covering up a N7 billion fraud involving top officials at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Despite the arrest of several key figures in 2023, the implicated officials have not been prosecuted and continue to receive promotions and benefits, leading to widespread outrage over the EFCC’s handling of the case.
The fraud, which centers around the misappropriation of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) funds, has reportedly amounted to N7 billion.
According to SaharaReporters, sources within the NCAA revealed that despite the scale of the alleged theft, the indicted officials have not faced any official scrutiny.
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Rather than being held accountable, these officials have continued to benefit from promotions and other work privileges, while the EFCC has yet to take meaningful action.
The absence of legal proceedings raises concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the commitment of the EFCC to address the high-level corruption.
Recall that in March 2023, four senior NCAA officials were arrested by the EFCC in connection with the fraud, which initially involved an estimated N2 billion in stolen DTA funds.
However, further investigation revealed that the amount had risen to N7 billion. The arrested officials included Bilkisu Adamu Sani, Director of Finance and Accounts; Hart Benson Fimienye, Deputy General Manager of Treasury; Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Deputy General Manager of Management Accounts; and Nathaniel Terna Kaainjo, General Manager of Accounts and Stores.
Additional arrests were made, including several staff members from the NCAA’s Finance Directorate, after EFCC investigators uncovered more than N7 billion in the suspects’ bank accounts.
The EFCC’s apparent inaction since the arrests has prompted frustration from within the aviation sector.
A source within the NCAA expressed disbelief at the lack of legal action, stating, “I’m bringing this as one of the biggest cases of fraud in the aviation ministry which the EFCC has been playing about with.
“Even though the same EFCC has got truthful facts that the crime was committed, the agency has never arraigned the alleged officials in court nor does it have any intention of arraigning anyone of them.”
The source continued, “This shows one of the many corrupt and sharp practices of the anti-graft agency. The aviation workers are still petitioning the EFCC on this fraud because those top officials involved are enjoying the looted money. They are still sitting in the same position that gave them this privilege.”
Another source corroborated, adding, “Even the indicted officials are promoted faster than those working and breaking their necks to move the Nigerian aviation forward.”
Further details of the fraud emerged in May 2023, when sources revealed that the stolen N7 billion had been used by the suspects to acquire luxury homes in Abuja and Lagos, along with expensive cars.
One General Manager was found to have up to N800 million in his account.
“More than N7 billion has so far been found in the accounts of these people and low-level staff in NCAA that works in the Finance Directorate. They have been stealing money in NCAA, and have continued to do so even today,” a source revealed.
The scandal has also raised questions about the oversight of the NCAA’s financial operations.
Captain Musa Nuhu, the Director-General at the time, was not listed as a signatory to the agency’s accounts, leading to speculation that he may have been unaware of the fraudulent activities taking place.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men aged 84 and 75 for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, in a shocking case that has stirred public concern.
The suspects, identified as Godfrey Orji (84) and Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora (75), were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives over their alleged involvement in drug distribution within school communities.
Drugs hidden in patent medicine shop
According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Obiora was arrested on June 19, 2026, after credible intelligence linked him to selling illicit substances to students from his patent medicine store located at 4 Club Road, Umuahia.
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A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Babafemi stated: “Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store.”
Arrest at school exposes second suspect
In a separate operation, Godfrey Orji, a pensioner, was apprehended after he was allegedly caught supplying drugs to students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.
Security guards at the school reportedly intercepted him and handed him over to the police, who later transferred him to the NDLEA.
One of the teenage students, a 15-year-old SS2 pupil, allegedly confessed during interrogation that the suspect regularly supplied him with drugs, which he also sold to other students.
Students moved to rehabilitation
The NDLEA confirmed that while the two suspects will face prosecution, the affected students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation programmes as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in schools.
Nationwide crackdown continues
The Abia arrests come amid ongoing nationwide operations by the NDLEA, which also recorded major drug seizures across the country In Lagos, operatives intercepted 9.5kg of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid concealed in a shipment from China.
Another raid uncovered 300 grams of cannabis (“Loud”) hidden in handbags at a logistics facility.
A drug dealer’s home in Ajah was raided, with codeine syrup and cannabis recovered.
In Kogi State, a suspect was arrested with 1.030kg of methamphetamine hidden in custard containers.
In Oyo State, operatives recovered 1,416kg of skunk during a major raid.
In Edo State, large cannabis farms were destroyed, with over 4,000kg of cannabis recovered or eradicated.
NDLEA vows stronger enforcement
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended operatives across multiple states for their coordinated operations and urged them to sustain the momentum.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to both enforcement and public sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The NDLEA says it will continue its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, especially those targeting vulnerable young people in school environments, as investigations and prosecutions continue in the Abia case.
Popular TikTok personality, Fati Cele, has been detained by the Kano State Police Command following the death of her boyfriend, Isma’il Makaye, at her residence in Kano State.
The development was confirmed on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna, who said the social media influencer is currently in custody while investigations continue.
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“Yes, it’s true, the TikToker is currently being detained over the death of her boyfriend, Isma’il Makaye,” Haruna said.
The police spokesperson, however, declined to provide further details regarding the incident, stressing that investigations are ongoing.
Fati Cele, who is originally from Borno State, resides in a rented apartment in the Danbare area of Kano.
She is a well-known content creator on TikTok, where she has built a following of more than 32,000 followers.
According to a source close to the deceased who spoke on condition of anonymity, the incident occurred after Cele allegedly raised an alarm from her residence, claiming there was a fire outbreak.
The source said Makaye was immediately rushed to Nassarawa Hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead.
It was further gathered that officers attached to the Dorayi Babba Police Division subsequently took the TikTok personality into custody as part of ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The deceased, Makaye, was a cosmetics trader who lived in the Hotoro Tishama area of Kano.
Family associates disclosed that he was buried at Unguwa Uku Yan Awaki after his remains were released to relatives for burial rites.
The Kano State Police Command has yet to disclose the exact cause of death, maintaining that investigations are still underway.
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered an alleged human trafficking scheme and arrested a woman accused of attempting to traffic three young women from Kaduna State to Ivory Coast for prostitution.
The victims, aged between 18 and 20, were reportedly lured from Kaduna to Lagos with promises of legitimate employment at a restaurant.
However, upon arriving in the Ajegunle area of Lagos on May 23, they allegedly discovered that the job offer was a cover for a plan to send them abroad for prostitution.
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According to information obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), one of the victims became suspicious after learning of the suspect’s alleged intentions and immediately objected to the arrangement.
A police source disclosed that the young woman informed the suspect that prostitution was never part of the agreement and that they had travelled to Lagos believing they were coming for genuine employment opportunities.
“She immediately told the suspect that prostitution was not what they had been told they were coming to Lagos for,” the source said.
The source further revealed that the suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park in preparation for their movement out of the country.
“The suspect allegedly took the girls to a motor park with plans to facilitate their movement out of the country.
“Alarmed by the development, one of the victims approached the police and lodged a complaint.
“Following the report, detectives launched an investigation and subsequently apprehended the suspect,” the source added.
Following the complaint, detectives launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Tijani, subsequently ordered that the case be transferred from the Tolu Police Division in Ajegunle to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for a thorough investigation.
The case is currently being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking/Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr. Dayo Akinbisehin.
Investigators are probing allegations of conspiracy, deception and human trafficking, while efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims reportedly being held by an accomplice and identify additional members of the suspected trafficking network.
The police source also disclosed that the victims were never informed about the alleged plan before leaving Kaduna and that one of them became alarmed only after learning of the intention to transport them abroad for prostitution.
Authorities said investigations have been concluded and the suspect is expected to be charged to court soon.
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