Brass Project Scandal: EFCC Detains NCDMB’s Wabote Over $35M Fraud Allegations
Simbi Wabote, the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), is currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with allegations of mismanagement and financial misconduct regarding several projects in Bayelsa State.
These projects, which include the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company, the Atlantic International Refinery, and the Brass Petroleum Product Terminal, involved significant disbursements of funds, including a controversial $35 million investment in the Atlantic International Refinery.
The investigations follow a petition filed by former Bayelsa State lawmaker Israel Sunny-Goli, who highlighted concerns over the lack of progress on these projects despite the substantial investments made.
He accused Wabote and other NCDMB officials of financial recklessness, pointing to the stalled status of the projects and the uncertainty surrounding their completion.
Sunny-Goli has called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of anyone found guilty of misappropriating funds.
The situation has drawn attention from various political figures, with some, like the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, publicly criticizing the handling of the projects under Wabote’s tenure