The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed how the Commission intervened in 2024 to stop a contractor mobilised by the Ministry of Power from executing a contract with fake and substandard transmission lines.
He made this disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, when the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Olusegun Adesayo, paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.
According to him, the contractor was investigated by the EFCC and found to have imported fake transmission lines, which could have posed a danger to the entire nation.
“In 2024, we had cause to write to the Ministry of Power to blacklist a contractor when we investigated and confirmed that he imported fake and substandard power transmission lines for the execution of a contract awarded to him,” he said.
He noted that the intervention by the Commission saved the nation from a potential disaster and possible loss of lives and property.
Olukoyede assured the NEMSA delegation of the readiness of the EFCC to work with the agency in ensuring better electricity supply across the country.
“We believe that we can work together to improve electricity supply in Nigeria and ensure that all key stakeholders in the industry comply with the rules and laws guiding the sector. When we do this, we will see improvements in power supply in Nigeria. Our mandate covers economic sabotage, not only financial crimes,” he said.
The EFCC boss also urged the delegation to pay special attention to procurement and contract fraud, assuring them that the Commission has adequate competence in those areas.
Earlier in his remarks, Adesayo stated that the visit was to foster collaboration with the Commission toward ensuring safety standards in the power industry and to emphasise the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
He further stressed that the agency is mandated to enforce technical standards and regulations in the electricity sector, thereby ensuring safety, reliability, and quality of electrical materials nationwide.
Adesayo sought EFCC’s collaboration primarily in the areas of intelligence sharing, procurement irregularities, investigation of substandard electrical materials, contract abuse, regulatory compliance, as well as public sensitisation and capacity building.
He highlighted the critical role of regulation and enforcement in protecting public infrastructure and resources.
“We recognise that effective regulation and anti-corruption enforcement are very important. Therefore, we seek a coordinated effort to safeguard our public infrastructure and natural resources. We also seek your guidance on strengthening our internal control mechanisms,” he said.
He assured Olukoyede of ongoing internal reforms in NEMSA aimed at improving probity within the agency and reaffirmed its commitment to aligning with the Federal Government’s anti-corruption agenda.
