Isa Pantami denies extremist links amid ₦18.9bn fraud petition

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has addressed allegations against him, attributing recent attacks to forces opposing the compulsory National Identity Number (NIN) registration policy. Pantami denied links to extremist views, stating that criminals and entrenched interests are targeting him to undermine the registration process, which he noted has faced resistance since 2011.

Separately, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Pantami regarding the alleged misappropriation of ₦18.9 billion. The petition concerns broadband infrastructure projects for airports and tertiary institutions that were reportedly approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2023 but remained unexecuted despite delivery deadlines.

HEDA has called for a forensic audit and an investigation into the procurement process, specifically questioning the use of direct procurement and the discrepancy between different reported contract values. The group requested that the EFCC trace released funds and determine the roles of Pantami, contractors, and technical auditors in the matter.