Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, arrested a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, over a N240million shady contract awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Etteh, who was detained at the Abuja office of the EFCC, was still undergoing interrogation as of 9pm on Tuesday.
It was learnt that her arrest by the anti-graft agency was in connection with her receipt of N130m through her personal account from Phil Jin Project Limited, a firm the NDDC awarded the contract in 2011.
It was gathered that Etteh was unable to explain why the firm transferred N130m out of N240million contract sum to her.
A source at the EFCC official said the N240million was for a contract to supply solar powered street lights in some communities in Akwa Ibom.
According to the source, the firm was paid an initial sum of N34million and two weeks later, received N253million, bringing the total amount paid for the contract to N287million, though the contract worth only N240million.
He said the commission was baffled that Etteh, who was not a director of the company, was paid N130million, adding that it was for this reason that the ex-Reps Speaker was invited for questioning.
Recall that Etteh represented the Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Constituency of Osun State from 1999 to 2011.
Although she was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives, she resigned over fraud allegations.
Etteh was then replaced by Dimeji Bankole.