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N100bn Contract Racketering: Group Wants Prosecution Of Ex-NDDC Boss
A group, Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum (ACIF) has vowed to prosecute former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa over alleged record fraud, contract racketeering, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to N100,807, 595,994.18 billion.
In the petition earlier submitted to the EFCC, the group accused Prof. Brambaifa and others of contract racketeering, contract fraud, embezzlement and money laundering of a staggering contract sum of over One Hundred Billion, Eight Hundred Million Naira (N100,807, 595, 994.18)
The alleged shady transactions were reportedly recorded in three months with the NDDC domiciliary account number 10367-usdclbaxx-xx, main account number 12017966xxxx, revenue account number, 12017966xxxx, project account 12017966xxx at the Central Bank Of Nigeria, CBN.
It, therefore, gave a 7-day ultimatum for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to comply with the expected arrest and prosecution of the suspect.
The anti-graft group also affirmed to occupy the EFCC, headquarters in Abuja and presidency in protest and subsequently approach any court of competent jurisdiction on the failure of the EFCC over its deadline.
Our correspondent learnt that not only Brambaifa was accused but his son, David.
Others are former Executive Director of Finance, Chris Amadi, Wife Anna Preye Brambaifa, Greg David Osuma, Clara Osuma, Mike Ayapaye, Uche Aleke, Honourable Sunday Aguebor, Brigadier General Charles Dalo Nengite and Tony Chukwu.
These resolutions followed a petition endorsed by Comrades Prince Kpokpogri and Adediran Raymond who are Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively.
When contacted, Aniete Ekong, the media aide to the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio who also supervises the NDDC said he was not aware of the petition to the EFCC by the anti-graft group against Brambaifa and others.
But Akpabio’s media aide affirmed that the forensic audit of the financial transactions by the past NDDC board operators as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari was ongoing.
In an additional statement also signed by Kpokpogri, he had expressed concern over the delay in arresting and prosecuting Brambaifa.
According to the petition, Professor Brambaifa allegedly made NDDC pay the contractors between seventy and seventy-five per cent (70-75%) of the contract sum as mobilization and soon after the balance was paid even before the completion of the project.
“This certainly proves that the said companies were used as a front to embezzle and siphon monies in the guise of awarding contracts, most of which are never executed. This is against the dictates of the public procurement act.”
Kpokpogri said the undue delay was inimical to the touted anti-graft war of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
It is on this premise that the forum called on the NDDC Audit Committee chaired by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, to probe suspected former MDs and Executive Directors of the Commission to provide requisite documents for further investigations.
The petitioning group added, “One of such companies are Sunroni International Limited and Bibi International Transaction Company Limited both owned by one Honourable Sunday Aguebor (His friend and father-in-law) Stranet Consult Nigeria Limited owned by Brigadier General Charles Nengite and Roudu Nigeria Limited owned by Mr. Tony Chukwu.”
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will have to demonstrate to the Presidency, Nigerians and the International Community that they are serious in fighting corruption”.
But when Mr. Tony Orilade, the acting spokesman of the EFCC was also contacted for his reaction, his MTN mobile phone line was neither connected nor reachable.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”