How EFCC traced N603m to a civil servant’s wife in Bayelsa

The EFCC has traced about N603 million to one Mrs Esther Habu, wife of Mr Josiah Habu, a civil servant and Director of the Bioresources Development Centre in Bayelsa State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the investigation and discovery followed allegations that Esther, whose husband is a director at the BIODEC branch in Bayelsa State, was awarded suspicious contracts.

BIODEC was established in 2003 by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, as an intervention programme of the Federal Government aimed at developing the natural resources of Nigeria for use in agriculture, health, environment and industry.

It has about 25 centres across the country.

According to the EFCC, the total sum of N603,000,000 which was traced to Esther was discovered in different deals involving over 20 directors of BIODEC across the country.

This was revealed in a statement EFCC released through its spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, adding that about N70million was also traced to her husband.

The statement further disclosed that the anti-graft agency has also arrested the Director – General of NABDA, Prof Lucy Ogbadu.

His arrest was sequel to the fact that he is in charge of all BIODEC branches across the country.

Ogbadu was said to have received N23million from the slush fund.

“Operatives of the EFCC have arrested the serving Director- General of NABDA, Prof Lucy Ogbadu, for her alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy and diversion of public funds to the tune of N23million.

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“Ogbadu was arrested on Wednesday June 28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following her alleged link with the Bayelsa State Director of BIODEC, Mr Josiah Habu, who is being investigated by the EFCC in a case of fraudulent diversion of the sum of N75m

“Investigations by the EFCC showed that Ogbadu allegedly received the sum of N23million through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs Esther Habu, and admitted same in a voluntary statement made to the EFCC.

“Further investigations have also shown that Mrs Habu is one of the contractors with BIODEC, Odi, Bayelsa State, and a total sum of N603million has been traced to her in different deals involving over 20 directors of BIODEC across the country,” the statement read in part.

 

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