The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Directorate, yesterday arraigned the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Dickson Akon, and the Corps’ Director of Finance, Omolola Aminat Ahmed, before Justice H. B. Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, over the alleged misappropriation of ₦60 million contract funds.

The two officials were docked on a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and misappropriation of funds allocated for the supply of badges to the Corps.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2024 in Abuja to commit criminal misappropriation — an offence punishable under Section 96 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT.

The first charge reads: “That you, Dickson Akon and Omolola Aminat Ahmed, in the year 2024 at Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did agree among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal misappropriation and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 96 of the Penal Code Laws of the FCT.”

In the second count, the anti-graft agency alleged that the duo dishonestly converted ₦46 million out of the ₦60 million released for the execution of a contract for the supply of badges.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel Khalid Sanusi applied for a date to commence trial.

Justice Yusuf adjourned the matter till February 25, 2026, for trial and granted the defendants ₦5 million bail each, with one surety in like sum. The sureties, the judge ruled, must be reputable and resident within Abuja.

The case continues.

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This followed the reintroduction of the Peace Corps Bills to the lawmakers during Tuesday’s plenary by Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, who also represents Borno South Senatorial District.

The bill seeks to transform the Peace Corps which operates as a non-governmental organisation into a paramilitary government agency to be known as the Nigerian Peace Corps.

The 8th National Assembly had passed the Peace Corps Bill in 2017 following a protracted battle involving the organisation and security agencies in the country.

While many Nigerians, especially the youth were hopeful that the creation of the corps would reduce the unemployment rate, the bill failed to become a law as President Muhammadu Buhari withheld his assent in February 2018.

The President had explained that he rejected the bill due to security concerns and the burden of funding the organisation by the Federal Government.

Ndume  also said the bill sought to empower the Peace Corps to undertake activities currently being performed by extant security and law enforcement agencies in the country.

Displeased with the President’s action, some members of the House of Representatives decided to revive the bill by vetoing President Buhari’s decision.

However, there was a loud negative response from members of the House when the then Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, put the motion to a voice vote in May 2018.

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SATISFIED with the passage of the much expected bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps into law, the lawmaker representing Ibadan South East Constituency II in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ademola Akeem Ige has paid a glowing tribute to the Senate and House of Representatives for demonstrating deep sense of commitment to national security and development.

The lawmaker gave the commendation while reacting to the passing of the said bill by the Senate on Tuesday.

He assured that the passage of the bill would see the Peace Corps playing a complementary role alongside other security agencies in the country, stressing that the Peace Corps outfit when fully taken off, would enable the youth and unemployed graduates to contribute to the overall development of the nation in the area of security.

Hon. Ige, who further disclosed that he was particularly happy that the labour of over 350 unemployed youths he purchased forms for in his constituency area and some local government areas in the State under the empowerment scheme dubbed ‘Ige Again Youth Employment Scheme’ for that had undergone series of training would not be in vain as their hope of being enlisted in the scheme has been rekindled with the passage of the bill by the Senate in concurrence with the House of Representatives.

He said, “the passage of the bill into law is a good omen for the unemployed youth who had hitherto lost hope over the crisis that had earlier affecting the establishment of the Peace Corps scheme in Nigeria as another paramilitary security outfit in Nigeria in affiliate of African Union and the United Nations.”

He, however, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to expedite action to assent to the bill so that the first set of beneficiaries of this scheme would commence operation having undergone training and perfected other conditions for enlistment.

The lawmaker assured that he would always support any course that would bring succour to the people especially the youth in his constituency area.

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