The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah, over alleged abuse of office and collection of N83m bribe.

A statement yesterday by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said that Okah was arrested on August 15 after a petition by the Ebonyi State government on a $12m contract awarded to a United States company, Califco Group.

It noted that the government asked the EFCC “to investigate the contract which was abandoned since 2012 despite a mobilization payment of $10.8m into the accounts of the company.”

EFCC said investigation had revealed that both the Abuja and Ebony addresses of the company were non-existent.

It was also discovered that the former commissioner allegedly “collected N83m gratification from the company between July 30, 2012 and December 30, 2014, through his companies: Global Victory Allied Company and Mahco Mega Nigeria Limited.”

The statement concluded that probe into the matter would continue.