The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is investigating the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, over an alleged misappropriation of public funds, The PUNCH can authoritatively report.

Our correspondent gathered from a reliable source in the anti-graft agency that about 146 staff of the NCPC have been invited for questioning by the EFCC.

The invited staff of the NCPC, it was further gathered, were to report at the EFCC?s corporate headquarters from Monday, January to.

The source said, ?The commission is currently investigating the NCPC and we have invited about 146 staff of the commission for questioning. They all have been assigned various dates to report at the EFCC?s headquarters and it is between Monday and Friday.?

The EFCC?s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached on Sunday to confirm the report.

However, our correspondent obtained an internal memo from the NCPC dated January 16, imploring the invited staff to go along with their passports to the EFCC?s office.

The memo signed by Assistant Director APD, Chukwura Frank, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, was titled, ?Re: Invitation by EFCC on investigation of misappropriation of public funds?.

It partly read, ?I am directed to inform you that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited 146 officers of the Commission (both serving and retired) for an interview, and to go along with their international passports (sic) for this purpose.

?In furtherance to the above, the officers on the attached list should report to the EFCC on the dates indicated against their names for the interview with Head, Special Duty Committee 3, at EFCC Headquarters Jabi, Plot 301/302 Institution and Research District, Abuja by 10:00 am prompt

?This is for your information and strict compliance, please.?

According to the memo, those scheduled to appear include the Assistant Chief Accountant on Wednesday, January 22, 2025; the Assistant Chief Executive (Statistician), Principal Executive Officer (Accounts), Principal Accountant, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Assistant Chief Planning Officer, and Assistant Chief Executive (Accounts) on Thursday, January 23, 2025; and the Principal Procurement Officer, Principal Planning Officer, and Principal Information Officer on Monday, January 27, 2025, among others.

The spokesperson for the NCPC, Celestine Ogugua, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

One of those invited contacted by our correspondent said the invitation was a routine check into the books of the commission.

He said, ?It is not a new thing for us here. It is a routine exercise to check the books of the commission. It is nothing to worry about.? (Text, excluding headline: The PUNCH)

Update news