November 13, (THEWILL) – Former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote, on Tuesday, honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following his return from abroad.
Wabote, who arrived at the Abuja headquarters of the anti-graft agency at about 2 pm on Tuesday, left the facility in the evening, after his interview by investigators.
THEWILL spoke to Wabote on Wednesday morning and he confirmed meeting with investigators at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC.
He declined to speak further on the matter.
However, it was gathered that his appearance at the EFCC’s facility follows the arrest of the Managing Director, Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele for alleged misappropriation of funds for the Energy Infrastructure Park financed by the NCDMB in Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Wabote’s involvement stems from his leadership role at NCDMB from 2016 to 2023.
According to the EFCC, the “NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid $35million to Akindele to build a 2000 barrel per day, BPD, Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre, and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, FTZ, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa state.
“Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele allegedly abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum paid to him.
“Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including 2000 barrels per day, BPD, Refinery, Jetty, Gas Plant, Power Plant, Data Centre and Tank Farm at Brass Free Trade Zone, FTZ, Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State.”
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