The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Abdulazeez Gbadebo, a fuel station manager, for allegedly diverting ₦500 million belonging to his employer, Emadeb Energy Service Limited, in Kaduna.
In a statement on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed that Gbadebo was arrested by operatives from the Commission’s Kaduna Zonal Directorate after the company filed a petition.
Referring to the petition, Oyewale said an external audit showed that the suspect allegedly manipulated pump meters to sell bulk petrol and siphoned ₦500 million into his personal bank accounts.
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He added that the commission’s investigations revealed the suspect sold bulk petrol and diesel to various individuals, receiving payments directly into his personal bank accounts.
“Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested one Abdulazeez Gbadebo, the station manager of Emadeb Energy Service Limited, for alleged criminal breach of trust and diversion of funds to the tune of N500 million.
“His arrest followed a petition by Emadeb Energy Service Ltd., alleging that it discovered through an external audit that the suspect illegally diverted and sold bulk petrol to customers by manipulating the pump meters and diverting N500 million that accrued from the fraud to his personal bank account.
“Investigations carried out by the Commission revealed that the suspect sold bulk petrol and diesel to different individuals and received payments through his private bank accounts.”
He further stated that the items recovered from Gbadebo included luxury vehicles—two Mercedes-Benz cars and three Mini Coopers—along with landed properties and a three-bedroom fully detached bungalow in Kaduna.
“Items recovered from him include an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz, an ash-colored Mini Cooper, a green-coloured Mini Cooper, an ash-colored Mini Cooper, and a white Mercedes-Benz GLK. Others are one original authorisation letter from Kaduna Geographical Information System, KADGIS; a certificate of occupancy with file number KDL 328159; one three-bedroom, fully detached bungalow; and three landed properties,” he said.
Oyewale stated that the suspect would be arraigned in court once the investigations are concluded.
The arrest underscores persistent concerns over financial crimes in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, which has long struggled with fraud, fund diversion, and other illicit activities.
