Lagos: In a dramatic turn of events, Nigerian authorities have apprehended a former minister who had been evading justice since his conviction for embezzling public funds. Sources confirm the arrest occurred at a private airport outside Lagos early this morning, as the fugitive attempted to flee the country on a chartered jet.
The former minister, whose identity has not been officially released but is widely believed to be a senior figure in the previous administration, was convicted in absentia last month for laundering over $50 million through shell companies and offshore accounts. The conviction followed a two-year investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which uncovered a web of bribes, fake contracts, and hidden assets.
According to documents obtained by this newsroom, the money was siphoned from infrastructure projects meant to build roads and schools in rural areas. Instead, those projects were abandoned or never started, leaving communities without basic amenities. The scale of the theft has been described by one EFCC insider as “industrial-level looting.”
Witnesses at the airport reported a brief scuffle as plainclothes officers surrounded the jet. The former minister was led away in handcuffs, his face hidden under a jacket. He is now in custody at a secure location, awaiting transfer to a federal prison. Legal experts say he will face immediate sentencing for contempt of court, in addition to his original 10-year sentence for corruption.
This arrest is a rare victory for Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade, which has long been criticised for targeting political opponents while shielding allies of the current president. Critics point out that over 90% of convictions under the EFCC have involved low-level officials, while powerful figures often buy their way out or flee abroad. Yet this case stands out: the former minister had been on Interpol’s red notice list for six months, and his capture involved cooperation between Nigerian intelligence, international agencies, and private investigators.
For the thousands of Nigerians who marched in protest last year demanding accountability, this arrest may feel like a moral victory. But the money is gone. Aid groups estimate that corruption costs Nigeria up to $20 billion annually, money that could have lifted millions out of poverty. The former minister’s assets, frozen in Swiss banks, will likely cover only a fraction of what was stolen.
As I write this, his lawyers are already filing motions for bail and appeal. The courts will decide. But on the streets of Lagos, people are asking a simpler question: will anyone actually go to prison? The answer, based on history, is doubtful. Yet for now, a fugitive is in chains. And that is more than we have seen in a long time.
