By Vincent Tyosuugh

An investigation has been launched into the alleged fraud surrounding the award of over N100 billion contracts for the construction of technical colleges in Benue State, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The investigation is allegedly coming on the heels of petitions from more than 60 contractors to the EFCC claiming to have been defrauded by some government officials.

The investigation led to the interrogation of four senior state government officials, the former Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, now Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Rev. Frederick Ikyaan.

Other key government officials questioned by the EFCC Makurdi Zonal Directorate are the incumbent Commissioner for Education, Mrs Margaret Adamu; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Timothy Ornguga; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Helen Nambativ.

The complaining contractors allegedly mobilised personal funds to commence construction of some technical colleges across the state, after being assured that the projects had government approval.

But an anonymous EFCC source, according to Daily Trust said the contracts, valued at over N100 billion, were allegedly awarded last year without the approval of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The source claimed that one Lawrence Kyaku, who reportedly presented himself as a Senior Special Assistant to the governor, persuaded the contractors to commence work, claiming that he had the administration’s approval.

He further said that Kyaku collected huge sums of money from some contractors under the guise of facilitating the projects, including over N100 million from one contractor and N50 million from another.

“The man had been claiming he is the SSA to the Governor and was deceiving the contractors to go ahead. He also deceived the commissioner that he had the governor’s backing to do the work.”

The source added that the contractors began raising concerns when they encountered difficulties securing payment for work already executed, prompting them to petition the anti-graft agency.

He further disclosed that the EFCC was investigating a letter allegedly signed by the Attorney-General, Prof. Ornguga, directing contractors to pay one percent of their contract sums into a designated bank account as vetting fees.

According to the source, the letter and the account details reinforced the contractors’ belief that the projects were genuine government contracts, encouraging them to invest their resources.

“This one percent may look to you as a small amount, but when it involves a huge amount, it is huge,” the source said.

The commission is also examining the respective roles of the former commissioner, the incumbent commissioner, the permanent secretary and other officials in the alleged contract awards, including whether established government procedures were followed or not.

The source added that EFCC had deployed investigators to unravel the nature of the transactions, determine the amounts collected from the contractors and ascertain whether any government approvals existed for the projects.

He added that the investigation was ongoing and that the commission was yet to establish the full picture of the alleged financial transactions.

By Felix Umande

The vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has warned that the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the party’s leadership could trigger unrest if not properly managed.

Amaechi gave the warning in an interview on Mainland 98.3 FM on Saturday, saying:

“It could cause a civil war if not properly managed. When we heard the news, we quickly met, myself and the presidential candidate and the chairman of the party, and we said: ‘please, lower the tempo’.”

Last Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark, in a ruling that also invalidated the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The judgment also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary, and ordered INEC not to recognise decisions taken at the party’s 99th NEC meeting of July 27, 2025.

The suit was filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Gombe, who challenged how Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

Amaechi said the ADC leadership has appealed the ruling and urged supporters to remain calm and disciplined while the legal process unfolds.

By Nick Ibe, Abuja

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, once ordered the refund of billions of naira donated to a church project after the funds were traced to proceeds of crime, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed.

Olukoyede said Adeboye directed the immediate return of the money within 24 hours after the church was alerted to its illicit source.

This was disclosed early in the morning of Saturday, November 7, while Olukoyede addressed workers of the RCCG during a meeting organised by the church ahead of its annual Holy Ghost Congress.

The Church Times Nigeria reported this development on Saturday, as Adeboye “invited Olukoyede to address the workers on financial propriety and the need for churches to maintain transparent financial records.”

According to the Punch, Olukoyede was quoted on the incident as saying: “A church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but investigations later revealed that the money was proceeds of financial crime.

“Adeboye ordered the refund shortly after the church was alerted.”

Olukoyede, the report further said, did not reveal the identity of the donor, the specific RCCG project or the exact amount involved as the proceeds of crime.

Olukoyede, an ordained pastor, has been expressing worry over the increasing number of cases involving church leaders implicated in financial crimes, as well as allegations relating to contracts for church projects, warned “Church workers against accepting suspicious donations and pursuing money through questionable means.”

The EFCC boss recalled a similar case involving “another church allegedly implicated in a Ponzi scheme, saying its leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.”

Names and details about the church and the ponzi scheme were also withheld even as he warned that:

“The commission would not spare anyone involved in financial crimes, regardless of their religious position or affiliation.”

He further “cautioned church members against materialism, unhealthy competition and leadership struggles, saying such tendencies could expose religious institutions to financial misconduct.”

He also raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly bribing their way into leadership positions within the RCCG.

Olukoyede urged pastors to investigate the sources of donations before accepting them, stressing the need to ensure that contributions to church projects were not proceeds of criminal activities.

In his response, Adeboye said the “RCCG would not protect anyone found to be involved in financial wrongdoing,” urging “pastors in the church to maintain clean financial records” and ensure that their activities were free from corruption.