The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Timber Kesiye Wabote, for alleged $35million Brass Project fraud.

His arrest yesterday is in connection with the botched refinery for which $35million was paid.

He was picked up following the arrest of the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35million public funds.

He is being detained at the EFCC?s holding facility in Abuja.

According to investigation by the commission, Akindele, who was the promoter of the Energy Infrastructure Park financed by the NCDMB in Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State, initially mooted the idea of the project to the Board.

It was gathered that the NCDMB embraced it with a counterpart funding to the tune of $35million.

Wabote was the Executive Secretary of NCDMB at that time.

He was the Executive Secretary of NCDMB between 2016 and 2023.

A brief on the investigation reads: ?NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35million to Akindele to build a 2000 barrel per day, BPD, Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, FTZ, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.

?Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum paid to him.

?Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote?s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including 2000 barrel per day, BPD, Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, FTZ, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.

The EFCC was said to be on the trail of other suspects. (The Nation)

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