Babangida-Aliyu

Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over  the sum of N3.6 billion realized from the sale of 16 percent of the state’s 26 percent stake in North-South Power Ltd and another sum of N2 billion as ecological fund which he received from the Federal government in 2015.

The EFCC alleged that the funds realised from the two sources were laundered by the former governor and used for the prosecution of the 2015 governorship elections in Niger State which failed to enthrone Umar Nasko, his protégés.

It was gathered that Babangida was detained around 10 a.m. at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency and grilled by a crack team of detectives after he honoured an invitation extended to him.

“We had to detain him here as there are several issues that we are yet to cover even though he has made useful statements,” a top EFCC official said.

The EFCC claims his detention is to help the agency unravel  how the said funds were expended which according to them, included the award of outrageous contracts to companies allegedly belonging to his allies and close associates and most of which were never executed.