By Austin Ogwuda
… says arraignment was borne out of malice
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has lambasted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the arraignment of its National Commandant, Dr Dickson Akoh and the Director of Finance, Mrs. Omolola Aminat Ahmed at the FCT High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
The Corps in a strongly worded press statement on Friday made it clear that the arraignment and subsequent publication of its two bosses over civil contractual transaction was “unlawful, illegal and uncalled for in the first instance”.
The press statement release signed by Patriot Apeh Peterhot on behalf of the Corps, obtained by SaharaReporters stated that:
“It is wrong of the EFCC to have criminalized a simple civil contract transaction between Peace Corps of Nigeria and JETHEL Nigeria Global Resources Limited.
“The PCN recalled that contract No: 101/PCN50 for the production of badges of ranks, Nigerian/Service Badges, Beret badges and related kits was freely awarded to Jethel Nigeria Limited on July 12, 2024, and freely accepted by the company on the same day in writing by its Managing Director, Okocha Jones Gido.
“However, the Corps said that challenges arose in the repayment of the contract sum when the police unlawfully sealed off its National Secretariat in Abuja which till date, has crippled activities of the organisation.
“Specifically, Peace Corps was unable to effect full payment for the contract sum due to the inability of the organisation to sell the badges to its members across the country as a result of the sealing off of its National Headquarters”.
It further stated that “Jethel company had on March 6, 2025 petitioned the Police on the matter and Police in a letter with reference number 3000/IGP-SEC/MU/ABJ/T.2/Vol.115 of March 6, 2025 invited the National Commandant in respect of the matter.
“After taking arguments from the two parties, the office of the Inspector General of Police IGP practically resolved the matter with a conclusion, after investigation, that the issue in dispute was a simple business transaction fully documented by the two parties.
“The police however committed the Peace Corps of Nigeria and Jethel Limited to an agreement in writing to facilitate short term repayment effort.
“Peace Corps noted with happiness that in compliance with the Police-facilitated agreement, it on December 9, 2025 made the first part payment of N20 million to keep faith with the agreement.
“It is with regret, however, that four days after the office of IGP resolved the matter specifically, March 10, 2025, Jethel still took similar petition to EFCC in flagrant breach of the agreement reached at the Police Headquarters.
“Rather than following the lawful and civil resolution adopted at the Police Headquarters, EFCC took side with Jethel Limited with unnecessary harassment and intimidation of the two Peace Corps Chiefs in a supposed simple civil contract matter”, the statement added.
Recall that the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Dickson Akon was on Thursday arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja over alleged fraud bothering on the contract for the supply of badges.
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him along with the Director of Finance of the Corps, Imola Aminata Ahmed on a two-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds allocated to the Corps.
The Charge Sheet stated:
*That you, Dickson Akon and Omolola Aminat Ahmed in the year 2024 at Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did agree among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit criminal misappropriation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 96 of the penal code laws of the FCT.
*That you, Dickson Akon and Omolola Aminat Ahmed in the year 2024 at Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did agree among yourselves and dishonestly converted to your personal use the sum of N46,000,000,00, (Forty Six Million Naira only) out of the sum of N60.000.000.00, (Sixty Million Naira, only) meant for the execution of contract for the supply of badges.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of ₦5 Million with one surety each in like sum.
The presiding Judge, Justice H.B. Yusuf adjourned the matter till February 25, 2026.
