Professor Linus Okon‑Asuquo, the Director‑General of the National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), is now facing prosecution on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed criminal charges against him and four others in a Federal High Court. Court documents list the charges as corruption, abuse of office, and breach of the Public Procurement Act. The anti‑graft agency alleges that the defendants conspired to inflate contract sums, signed award letters in violation of procurement regulations, and approved payments that exceeded the legal authority of the Director‑General.
The case follows a series of investigative reports that exposed alleged mismanagement of over ₦2.5 billion through fraudulent contracts, diversion of intervention funds, and abuse of procurement processes. The reports triggered widespread staff protests at the NMDC headquarters, with workers demanding Professor Okon‑Asuquo’s removal over accusations of corruption, maladministration, and victimisation. In response, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development sent a delegation to assess the situation and pledged decisive action.
A source within the ICPC confirmed that the commission has concluded its investigation and filed the case for prosecution. This development marks a significant milestone in the unfolding corruption scandal at the NMDC, a strategic research institution tasked with driving industrialisation through metallurgical innovation. As one of Nigeria’s most important research bodies, the NMDC’s alleged fraud and administrative decay have far‑reaching implications for the country’s industrialisation efforts.
The prosecution of the Director‑General and other senior officials represents a major step in Nigeria’s fight against public‑sector corruption. The ICPC’s actions demonstrate a commitment to holding public officials accountable. The case is expected to proceed to trial, with the defendants facing multiple counts of corruption and abuse of office. Its outcome will be closely watched, given its significance for the future of the NMDC and broader anti‑corruption efforts in Nigeria.
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