By Our Correspondent
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of acting with bias in the arraignment of its National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh, and its Director of Finance, Mrs. Omolola Aminat Ahmed, at the FCT High Court, Abuja, on December 11.
The Corps described the arraignment of its two senior officials over a contractual matter as unlawful, inappropriate, and unnecessary.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Media Consultant, Comrade Peterhot Apeh, the organization faulted the EFCC for allegedly criminalizing what it termed a straightforward civil contract between the Peace Corps of Nigeria and JETHEL Nigeria Global Resources Limited.
According to the statement, Contract No. 101/PCN50, covering the production of rank badges, Nigerian/Service badges, beret badges, and related kits, was legitimately awarded to Jethel Nigeria Limited on July 12, 2024, and accepted in writing the same day by the company’s Managing Director, Okocha Jones Gido.
PCN explained that difficulties in paying the contract sum arose after the Police unlawfully sealed its National Secretariat in Abuja, a situation that has crippled its operations till date.
It further noted that full payment could not be made because the organization was unable to distribute the badges to its members nationwide due to the sealed Secretariat.
The Corps recalled that Jethel petitioned the Police over the matter on March 6, 2025. Following this, the Police invited the National Commandant via a letter (Ref No: 3000/IGP-SEC/MU/ABJ/T.2/Vol.115).
After hearing both sides, the Inspector General of Police’s office concluded that the dispute was purely a documented business transaction. The Police then facilitated a written agreement committing both parties to a short-term payment plan.
PCN expressed satisfaction that it had complied with the Police-mediated agreement by making a first installment payment of ₦20 million on December 9, 2025.
However, the organization lamented that just four days after the IGP’s intervention, on March 10, 2025, Jethel submitted a similar petition to the EFCC, which PCN described as a breach of the earlier agreement.
Instead of adopting the civil approach taken by the Police, PCN alleged that the EFCC sided with Jethel and resorted to harassment and intimidation of its leaders over a civil contract matter.
The organization criticized the EFCC for arresting its Director of Finance on December 9 when she visited the Commission’s Abuja office to present evidence of the ₦20 million payment, rather than acknowledging the effort. It added that the EFCC also detained the National Commandant when he attempted to secure her release.
PCN accused the EFCC of unprofessional conduct, insisting that the agency should not function as a debt recovery unit for any private entity. It urged EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, a lawyer by training, to address what it described as the unlawful actions of the officials handling the matter.
The Corps expressed concern that the arraignment of its two officers was malicious and linked to their refusal to yield to pressure from certain operatives to compromise the issue.
PCN reminded the EFCC of a subsisting order of an Abuja High Court issued by Justice J.E. Obanor on August 11, 2025, directing the Commission to maintain the status quo regarding the contract dispute between PCN and Jethel. The order stemmed from a motion filed by the Director of Finance, Omolola Ahmed, seeking protection from harassment, intimidation, arrest, or detention over the contract.
It also noted that another High Court, presided over by Justice Edward Okpe, had on April 7, 2025, restrained Jethel Limited from harassing, arresting, or taking any adverse action against Dr. Akoh regarding the contract.
The Peace Corps therefore demanded the immediate withdrawal of the charges against its two top officials, emphasizing that the EFCC must refrain from unlawfully acting as a debt recovery agency for any individual or organization.
