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The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Dickson Akon and the Director of Finance of the Corps, Omolala Aminat Ahmed, before Justice H. B. Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Abuja.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, head , media & publicity of the EFCC, the defendants were arraigned on a two- count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds allocated to the Corps
Charge one reads: “That you, Dickson Akon and Omolola Aminat Ahmed in the year 2024 at Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honorable 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.”
Count two read: “That you, Dickson Akon and Omolola Aminat Ahmed in the year 2024 at Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did agree among yourselves and dishonestly converted to your personal use the sum of N46, 000, 000, 00, (Forty Six Million Naira only) out of the sum of N60.000.000.00, (Sixty Million Naira, only) meant for the execution of contract for the supply of badges.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Khalid Sanusi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of the trial.
Justice Yusuf adjourned the matter till February 25, 2026, and granted the defendants bail in the sum of ₦5 million (Five Million Naira only) with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must be of a reputable character and must be resident in Abuja.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria, founded by Mr Akoh in 1998, rose to national prominence during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
It was founded as a national youth organisation with focus on youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and national development through volunteerism and paramilitary-style training.
The organisation, which aimed to combat youth unemployment and insecurity, has struggled in recent years to transit into a fully government-owned and funded body, an effort that once received bicameral support of the National Assembly, which ended up passing a bill for its establishment.
But the proposed law failed to see the light of the day because then-President Buhari withheld assent to it.
