DG arrested over alleged diversion of N23m public funds

The Director General of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA, Professor (Mrs) Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for her alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy and diversion of public funds to the tune of N23, 000,000.00.

Ogbadu was arrested on June 28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following her alleged link with the Bayelsa State Director of Bioresources Development Centre, Mr. Josiah Habu.

Habu is being investigated by the EFCC in a case of fraudulent diversion of the sum of N75, 0000,000.00.

The Commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Investigations by the EFCC showed that Ogbadu allegedly received the sum of N23m through a bank account belonging to the wife of Habu, Mrs. Esther Habu and admitted same in a voluntary statement made to the EFCC.”

Uwujaren further noted: “  Further investigations have also shown that, Mrs. Habu is one of the contractors with Bioresources Development Centre, Odi, Bayelsa State and a total sum of N603,000,000.00 has been traced to her, in different deals involving over 20 Directors of Bioresources Development Centres across the country. Ogbadu's linkage with all these scams is being investigated. She has been duly served with bail conditions while investigations continue.”