Agency Identifies Missing Abia Ex-Commissioner Enweremadu as Wanted Person

EFCC Declares Christopher Enweremadu Wanted for Alleged Diversion of Public Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Christopher Enweremadu, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Abia State, wanted. This development comes following allegations of criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, stealing, and money laundering.

Enweremadu served under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and has been linked to investigations into the management of funds allocated to Abia's 17 local government councils. The EFCC's public notice, signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, urges anyone with useful information about Enweremadu's whereabouts to report to any of the EFCC's zonal commands.

The court order for Enweremadu's investigation was issued in December 2024. The court ordered a probe into allocations to Abia's LGAs between 2019 and 2023. In addition, the court ordered the seizure of international travel documents belonging to Christopher Enweremadu, Erondu Uchenna Erondu, and Deaconess Joy Nwanju.

This action by the court was based on an ex parte application by an activist who alleged billions of naira meant for Abia's LGAs were diverted under the supervision of the named officials. The EFCC did not disclose further details of the specific transactions tied to Enweremadu in the fresh wanted notice.

Meanwhile, weeks before the declaration of Enweremadu as wanted, the EFCC also declared Abdullahi Bashir Haske, an Adamawa-born entrepreneur and associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. Like Enweremadu, the EFCC has not provided details about the specific transactions linked to Haske in the previous wanted notice.

The EFCC's investigation into the management of funds allocated to Abia's LGAs is not the first of its kind. In a related development, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja ordered a probe into allocations to the LGAs between 2019 and 2023.

Interestingly, the court also ordered the seizure of three travel documents in December 2024 by a federal court in Abuja. These travel documents belong to Ibrahim Magu, a former acting chairman of the EFCC.

The EFCC's declaration of Enweremadu as wanted is a testament to its commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring that those who divert public funds are brought to justice. The public is encouraged to provide any information that may lead to the apprehension of Enweremadu.