EFCC Arrests Four National Theatre Directors For Alleged Fraud

Four directors at the National Arts Theatre in Lagos have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

They were reportedly apprehended for allegedly embezzling “huge sums” of revenue and statutory allocation into private use.

 

It was gathered that the directors failed to remit revenues from the use of facilities at the Theatre into the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

 

Further reports indicate that among government revenue allegedly embezzled were N24 million yearly rent paid by Nigerian Breweries for its 20 branded kiosks and N9 million paid for the use of National Theatre during the “Lagos@50” celebrations.

 

The affected persons were said to have been whisked away from the premises of the Theatre after failing to honour the anti-graft agency’s invitation for questioning.

 

The intervention of Mrs Grace Gekpe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, on the telephone could not save the officials from being whisked away by the EFCC operatives.

 

Addressing an Anti – Corruption Rally earlier in the premises, the National Theatre boss, Mr Tar Ukoh, vowed to stamp out graft in the Agency.

 

“Culture must kill corruption before corruption kills culture, ” said Ukoh who also oversees the National Troupe of Nigeria.

 

Reacting to the development, Henry Udubuisi, Vice President, National Theatre Chapter of AUPCTRE, said that the union was behind the management’s decision to get rid the Agency of corruption.