The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has decried the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in dragging its National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh, and Director of Finance, Mrs Omolola Aminat Ahmed, to court over alleged fraud.
In a Friday statement issued by PCN’s Media Consultant, Comrade Peterhot Apeh, the Peace Corps condemned the EFCC’s arraignment, describing it as unlawful, inappropriate, and unnecessary — arguing that the matter stemmed from a civil contract dispute and should not have attracted criminal charges.
The statement said the disputed Contract No. 101/PCN50 — for the production of rank and service badges — was legitimately awarded to Jethel Nigeria Global Resources Limited on July 12, 2024, and duly accepted in writing by the company’s managing director. Payment difficulties, PCN said, arose only after the Police allegedly sealed its National Secretariat in Abuja, impeding operations and distribution of the badges nationwide.
PCN noted that Jethel first petitioned the Nigeria Police on March 6, 2025, leading to a police-facilitated agreement for a short-term payment plan. The Corps said it complied by making an initial ₦20 million payment on December 9, 2025.
However, PCN claims that Jethel then took a similar complaint to the EFCC on March 10, 2025, in breach of that agreement — prompting what the Corps describes as “harassment and intimidation” by anti-graft operatives rather than the continued civil resolution pursued by the Police.
The organisation also alleged that Mrs. Ahmed was arrested on December 9, 2025, when she visited the EFCC’s Abuja office to present evidence of the ₦20 million payment, and that Dr. Akoh was detained when he sought her release.
In its statement, PCN reminded the public that an Abuja High Court order issued on August 11, 2025, by Justice J. E. Obanor directed the EFCC to maintain the status quo regarding the contract dispute — an order the Corps says was breached by the arraignment. It also said another High Court, presided over by Justice Edward Okpe on April 7, 2025, restrained Jethel Limited from harassing or taking adverse action against Akoh over the matter.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Dr. Akoh, and Mrs. Ahmed, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on charges of alleged misappropriation of funds.
The anti-graft agency’s Abuja Zonal Directorate brought the duo before Justice H. B. Yusuf on Thursday, December 11, 2025, on a two-count charge accusing them of criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of funds relating to a contract for the supply of badges to the paramilitary-style corps.
According to the prosecution’s charge sheet, Akoh and Ahmed allegedly agreed in 2024 “to do an illegal act, to wit criminal misappropriation,” in contravention of Section 96 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT. They are further accused of dishonestly converting ₦46 million out of ₦60 million earmarked for the supply of badges for personal use — allegations both defendants pleaded not guilty to in court.
Following their pleas, prosecutor Khalid Sanusi asked the court to fix a date for trial. Justice Yusuf granted bail of ₦5 million each with one reputable surety resident in Abuja and adjourned the matter to February 25, 2026 for the commencement of trial proceedings.
Meanwhile, PCN urged EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede to intervene, insisting that the anti-graft agency should not act as a debt-recovery unit for private entities. The Corps described the arraignment as malicious and linked it to the leadership’s refusal to yield to pressure from “certain operatives to compromise the issue.”
While the dispute has attracted widespread attention, the EFCC has maintained it acted within its mandate, framing the charges as offences under Nigeria’s Penal Code relating to criminal misappropriation and dishonest conversion of funds allocated to the Peace Corps.
Both sides now await the next court date in February as the legal battle unfolds, with the Peace Corps doubling down on its demand for the charges to be withdrawn and asserting its commitment to lawful redress and orderliness.
