N15bn fraud: EFCC to declare ex-NSITF boss wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to declare wanted, a former chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Dr Ngozi Olojeme Daily Trust gathered yesterday.

She is wanted over an alleged N15.2 billion fraud.

Sources told our correspondent that the agency has obtained court order to arrest Olojeme, over allegation of diverting the NSITF funds, after she failed to honour EFCC invitations.

It was learnt that Olojeme is also the wife of the late Gordon Obua, Chief Security Officer to former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The EFCC source said Olojeme while holding sway as chairperson of the Board of NSITF, along with some directors, diverted funds meant for payment of staff allowances as well as compensation of contributors.

The EFCC said investigation into corruption at the NSITF followed a petition it received alleging that over N50 billion from the Employee Compensation Scheme Fund paid by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government were diverted.

It further said funds contributed by private companies, including another N18 billion being the contribution of the Federal Government as takeoff grants to the NSITF, were diverted into the personal bank accounts of Olojeme and Umar Abubakar, the Managing Director of the NSITF.

EFCC detectives tasked to investigate the allegations were said to have discovered suspicious transactions and diversion of funds from the bank accounts of the NSITF.

The EFCC source said some funds were traced to accounts of consultants and contractors alleged to be proxies and fronting for Olojeme and other directors in the NSITF.