NASENI Under Khalil Suleiman Halilu Paid N7.5 Billion to a Web of Companies Sharing the Same Directors, With the Agency Itself Listed as an Officer of Its Own Payee

Checks of the agency’s payment records and the companies register show the same names appearing on the directorships and officerships of different companies paid by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure. Together, the companies in this shared-director network received approximately N7.5 billion from the agency. Investigators use the term round tripping for the circulation of contracts within a closed network of linked firms.

Shehu Ahmed Tukur is listed as a director of Canonic Associates Limited, which received N2.09 billion in 32 payments, and also as a director of U.S.V. Development Services Limited, which received N51.49 million. Separately, the payment records show N122.49 million paid across nine transactions to a named individual described as “Arc. Shehu Tukur (Canonic Associates)”. One man stands on the records of two paid companies and a personal payment line, and the three lines total N2.26 billion.

Irene Chimuanya Azubuike, a lawyer, is listed as secretary or deponent of three paid companies: Transtropical Limited, which was paid N405.65 million directly; Machine and Equipment Corporation Africa Limited, a N3.12 billion payee, of which she is also the person with significant control; and MECA Ecouniverse Limited. All three companies share a single address, Plot 2542 Hassan Usman Katsina Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

Ajayi Olugbolaga is listed as shareholder and director of Securinex Limited, the N1.73 billion payee in a joint venture for AK-47 refurbishment and defence technology transfer, and also as a director of World of Anthonia Limited. Adedamola Aderemi is listed as director and shareholder of both Securinex Limited and Destination Hair Limited.

The records also place the agency itself inside the network. The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure is listed as an officer of Machine and Equipment Corporation Africa Limited, one of the companies it paid.

The Public Procurement Act bars participation in procurement where a conflict of interest exists, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act criminalises the use of office for private advantage. The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 treats the circulation of funds through linked corporate vehicles as layering, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 gives the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission its mandate over such networks. The Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act carries the conflict-of-interest framework for public officers. Shared directorships alone do not establish fraud.