by Dolapo Adelana

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Niger Governor, Babangida Aliyu for alleged abuse of office and money laundering, The Nation reports.

The anti-graft agency invited the former governor on Tuesday to reply to the allegations against him.

According to a source in the commission, Aliyu was grilled for more than 10 hours by detectives.

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A source in the anti-graft commission said, “Specifically, the Chief Servant, as he was called in his days as governor, is alleged to have diverted N2 billion Ecological Funds for political purposes.

“He is also alleged to have fraudulently sold the state’s stake in North-South Power, the holding company for Kainji Dam. About 16 percent of the state’s 26 percent shares in the company was sold for N3.6 billion.

“Of this, N1.090 billion was paid to the Government House and used for the 2015 elections, where Aliyu’s protégé, Nasko, ran unsuccessfully as governor.”

The source added, “Three companies were said to have benefited from the heist through contract awards. Among them a company that is owned by a former government official, which allegedly got a contract for which it was paid N847 million.

“Of this sum, N800m was allegedly given to a former chief of staff who allegedly handed the money to the former governor.”

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The source hinted that a company owned by a friend to Ibrahim Nasko, younger brother to a former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko got N487m for a contract.

“The money was paid to various Bureau de Change,  converted into dollars and handed to the former Chief of Staff (Nasko) who also delivered the money to Babangida Aliyu,” the official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“Secta Plus, however, executed the contract it received from the Niger State Government.

”He is detained as there are several issues yet to be covered even though he has made a useful statement.”