The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, Engineer Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah, for alleged abuse of office and collection of gratification to the tune of N83 million.

The arrest came after a petition by the Ebonyi State government over a $12 million contract to a U.S. based company Califco Group which has been abandoned since 2012.

The petition claimed that the State Government had already paid a mobilization fee of $10.8 million into the accounts of the company for the abandoned contract.

“Investigation has revealed that both the Abuja and Ebonyi state addresses of the said company are fictitious.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the former Commissioner allegedly collected gratification from the company in the sum of N83 million between July 30, 2012 and December 30, 2014, through his companies: Global Victory Allied Company and Mahco Mega Nigeria Limited.

“Investigation in this matter continues,” a statement by EFCC on Tuesday said.

Azeez