The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a fuel station manager, Abdulazeez Gbadebo, for allegedly diverting N500 million belonging to his employer, Emadeb Energy Service Limited, in Kaduna.
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying Gbadebo was arrested by operatives of the Commission’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate following a petition filed by the company.
Citing the petition, Oyewale said an external audit uncovered that the suspect allegedly manipulated pump meters to sell bulk petrol and diverted proceeds worth N500 million into his personal bank accounts.
He added that investigations by the commission revealed that the suspect sold bulk petrol and diesel to different individuals and received payments through his private bank accounts.
“Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested one Abdulazeez Gbadebo, the station manager of Emadeb Energy Service Limited, for alleged criminal breach of trust and diversion of funds to the tune of N500 million.
“His arrest followed a petition by Emadeb Energy Service Ltd., alleging that it discovered through an external audit that the suspect illegally diverted and sold bulk petrol to customers by manipulating the pump meters and diverting N500 million that accrued from the fraud to his personal bank account.
“Investigations carried out by the Commission revealed that the suspect sold bulk petrol and diesel to different individuals and received payments through his private bank accounts.”
He added that items recovered from Gbadebo included luxury cars—two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and three Mini Coopers — as well as landed properties and a three-bedroom, fully detached bungalow in Kaduna.
“Items recovered from him include an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz, an ash-colored Mini Cooper, a green-coloured Mini Cooper, an ash-colored Mini Cooper, and a white Mercedes-Benz GLK. Others are one original authorisation letter from Kaduna Geographical Information System, KADGIS; a certificate of occupancy with file number KDL 328159; one three-bedroom, fully detached bungalow; and three landed properties,” he said.
Oyewale said the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations
The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about financial crimes in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, which has long been plagued by cases of fraud and diversion of funds, among others.
