By Our Reporter
The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged money laundering and fraud involving about N500 billion.
Abdullahi’s arrest comes barely weeks after he publicly unveiled a “Renewed Hope” solarisation initiative aimed at deploying sustainable solar power infrastructure across the 36 states of the federation.
An EFCC official, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity, said the Energy Commission boss was arrested on Wednesday in Abuja and is currently in the commission’s custody pending the conclusion of investigations.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences,” the source said.
“He was arrested in Abuja and is currently in our custody. He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”
The anti-graft agency is reportedly probing alleged financial infractions linked to about N500 billion.
Before his appointment as Director-General by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 24, 2023, Abdullahi served as Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
A chartered mechanical engineer, he is known for his involvement in energy development and regulatory policy initiatives.
He recently claimed that his nationwide solarisation programme, promoted under the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the Tinubu administration, was designed to expand access to sustainable electricity through solar infrastructure deployment across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The arrest is expected to lift the veil on the management of funds tied to federal energy and infrastructure programmes of the commission.