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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on
Tuesday, August 2, arrested a level six officer of the Accounts
Department of the Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Christy Olabode, for an alleged
fraud to the tune of N100 million.
Tuesday, August 2, arrested a level six officer of the Accounts
Department of the Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Christy Olabode, for an alleged
fraud to the tune of N100 million.
Also arrested was her younger
brother, Abdul-Shehu Obaze, a staff at the Commercial Department of FAAN
in Ilorin, Kwara State, and Dominic Ojo, an IT officer at FAAN
Headquarters, Lagos.
brother, Abdul-Shehu Obaze, a staff at the Commercial Department of FAAN
in Ilorin, Kwara State, and Dominic Ojo, an IT officer at FAAN
Headquarters, Lagos.
Her arrest followed an anonymous petition, which
indicated that she allegedly diverted the said sum, by inserting names
of non-FAAN staff into its payroll.
indicated that she allegedly diverted the said sum, by inserting names
of non-FAAN staff into its payroll.
She allegedly conspired with Obaze,
to perpetrate the fraud. Obaze was found to have maintained not less
than eight accounts in seven new generation banks, which were used to
receive the funds for onward distribution to “several high ranking
officers within the FAAN”. The funds were being paid into his various
bank accounts with the narrative, “Furniture Allowance”.
to perpetrate the fraud. Obaze was found to have maintained not less
than eight accounts in seven new generation banks, which were used to
receive the funds for onward distribution to “several high ranking
officers within the FAAN”. The funds were being paid into his various
bank accounts with the narrative, “Furniture Allowance”.
However, while
allowance for FAAN’s furniture is usually paid once in three years,
Obaze received the “allowance” several times within a year.
Investigations carried out by the EFCC revealed that the fraud had gone
on since 2013. It unearthed a payroll with names of many dead, retired
and disengaged staff of FAAN listed against Obaze’s different bank
accounts.
allowance for FAAN’s furniture is usually paid once in three years,
Obaze received the “allowance” several times within a year.
Investigations carried out by the EFCC revealed that the fraud had gone
on since 2013. It unearthed a payroll with names of many dead, retired
and disengaged staff of FAAN listed against Obaze’s different bank
accounts.
Upon interrogation, Obaze, a level nine officer, confessed
that other FAAN officials were involved in the massive fraud, including
Olabode’s husband who works in the Human Resources department of FAAN.
Olabode and Ojo currently enjoy administrative bail, while Obaze remains
in EFCC custody. They would be charged to court as soon as
investigations are concluded.
