Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, over an alleged N500 billion money laundering scheme.

The arrest, which was carried out in Abuja on Wednesday, comes on the heels of the recent conviction of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a N33.8 billion fraud case.

Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that EFCC operatives are currently scrutinising a series of financial transactions linked to the energy agency as part of an ongoing probe into the alleged fraud.

Investigators were said to have uncovered suspicious movements of funds running into hundreds of billions of naira, prompting the anti-graft agency to intensify its investigation into the activities of the commission and some top officials connected to the transactions.

Although details of the allegations remain sketchy as of press time, sources within the commission hinted that the probe may involve contract awards, disbursement of intervention funds and other financial dealings under the agency’s supervision.

The development has thrown the Energy Commission into the spotlight, with analysts describing the investigation as one of the largest corruption probes involving a federal agency in recent times.

A top source at EFCC who chooses to remain anonymous confirmed that the DG of the energy commission is in the custody of the EFCC.

The Energy Commission has also yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations against its Director-General.