Temitope Banjoko, the Managing Director of a construction company, has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on suspicion of money laundering.
Mrs Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson for the ICPC, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.
She stated that Banjoko was awarded a contract in 2017 for the demolition and evacuation of debris from four houses at the Supreme Court judges’ residence in Maitama, Abuja, worth N46,305,000 (N41,674,500 after tax deductions).
The contract was not executed but the full sum was disbursed to Asbat Construction Limited, thereby attracting the attention of the ICPC.
Expressing regrets while writing his statement, the contractor claimed to have utilised the money for something else and some funds he was expecting were not forthcoming.
Banjoko was also said to have made a commitment to repay the money after the ICPC began its investigations.
The contractor had only repaid the sum of N5 million, out of the contract sum, leaving a net balance of over N36 million.
Investigations carried out by the ICPC, also revealed that some of the houses earmarked for demolition have been renovated and are now occupied by new judges.
The contractor, the ICPC spokesperson added, is expected to be charged to court very soon.