Fresh allegations of high-level corruption have rocked Nigeria’s Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, as sources reveal a clandestine scheme involving its top officials. Minister Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, in collaboration with Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), is accused of coercing agency heads under the ministry to raise a staggering ₦500 million to allegedly bribe lawmakers for the passage of the 2025 budget.
According to SaharaReporters, sources close to the agencies disclosed that Minister Nnaji and Dr. Abdullahi pressured the heads of various agencies under the ministry to contribute millions of naira each towards a collective sum of ₦500 million. The alleged goal? To facilitate the smooth passage of the 2025 budget by bribing members of the National Assembly.
The implicated agencies include:
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)
Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)
Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT)
National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)
National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)
National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)
Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA)
National Space Research & Development Agency (NARSDA)
Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)
National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT)
Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO)
Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO)
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)
Sources claim that Dr. Abdullahi oversaw the collection process, reportedly pressuring reluctant agency heads to comply.
Senate Chairman Raises Alarm Over Alleged Bribery Scheme
The scandal reportedly caught the attention of Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, and a former high-ranking official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to sources, Senator Abbas confronted Minister Nnaji and Dr. Abdullahi over the intended use of the ₦500 million. Reports allege that the funds were earmarked as follows:
₦300 million for the Senate Committee on Science and Technology
₦200 million for the House Committee on Science and Technology
Senator Abbas reportedly briefed his colleagues on the suspected bribery attempt, fueling concerns about widespread corruption within the budget approval process.
On January 14, 2025, Minister Nnaji took to social media, announcing his budget defence before the National Assembly.
> “I led the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology’s @FmstNg 2025 budget defence at the National Assembly, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye, ministry directors, and DGs/CEOs of agencies under the ministry’s supervision,” he wrote on X.
He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to driving innovation and national development. However, the allegations surrounding the ₦500 million bribe demand have cast a shadow over the integrity of the budget process.
This is not the first time lawmakers have been accused of leveraging their oversight powers for personal gain. In January 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported a similar extortion scheme targeting federal universities and tertiary institutions.
Lawmakers allegedly demanded ₦8 million per university, totaling ₦480 million, to secure budget approvals. The scheme reportedly involved the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund and the House Committee on University Education.
Attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain Minister Nnaji’s reaction were unsuccessful. His special assistant, Isime Esene, declined to answer follow-up calls and has not responded to WhatsApp or text messages regarding the allegations.
Meanwhile, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, has denied similar bribery claims involving lawmakers and universities. He dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous” and an attempt to tarnish the committee’s reputation.
With the budget approval process increasingly mired in bribery allegations, civil society organizations and anti-corruption agencies are under pressure to investigate these claims thoroughly.
Will the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) step in to probe this multi-million-naira scandal? Or will the allegations fade into the background like many before?
For now, the silence from the accused parties speaks volumes.
PIONEER NEWS 