EFCC quizzes Taraba energy commissioner, Director over allege N2B transformer contract funds

The Taraba state commissioner for Energy and Economy Hon. Naomi Tanko and the Director of Finance at the ministry were recently quizzed by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations of N2 billion mismanagement voted by the government to procure electricity transformers in the state.

Our correspondent who has been following the development over months ago gathered that the commissioner and the Director of Finance were initially invited by the anti-graft commission in 2024 and detained by the EFCC Gombe Zonal office over the same allegations involving more than ₦2 billion approved funds under the governor of the state Agbu Kefas.

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The N2B then approved by the administration was for the procurement and distribution of electricity transformers, it was targeted to light-up Taraba ruler and urban areas electricity for economic growth.

It was therefore gathered that the EFCC action to invite the duos was ignited following some report from the civil servants and outcry from citizens of the state that over N2B released to the ministry were paid into personal accounts of the commissioner instead of the official account of the ministry before disbursement to the contractors. “Although she was compared in the process to return the money into the ministries’ account. A senior staff of the ministry confirmed under anonymity.

The civil servants from the ministry and the locals across the state after waiting for provisions of the transformers across the state to no avail have revive calls on the commissioner and the EFCC to provide more light on the whereabouts of the transformers or the N2B transformer funds earlier approved by Governor Kefas.

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“Up till date, the public is yet to receive clear answers on whether the transformers were procured, distributed, and installed, the identity of the contractor, and the outcome of the EFCC investigation, we begged for answers because is public funds

The commissioner for Energy and Economy Hon Naomi Tanko refused to comment on the matter when contacted, she also refused to answer her phone calls and messages sent to her phone to clarify the issues.

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