EFCC arrests four National Theatre directors

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arrested four directors of The National Theatre in Lagos for alleged embezzlement of government funds.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four directors, including a woman, were picked up at their Iganmu office for allegedly diverting “huge sums” of revenue and statutory allocation into private use.

NAN learnt that the directors allegedly failed to remit revenues realised from the use of facilities at the National Theatre into the Federal Government Treasury Single Account (TSA).

According to sources, among government revenue allegedly embezzled were N24 million annual 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.


NAN reports that the affected directors were whisked out of the promises after they refused to honour EFCC invitation for questioning in the office of the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of National Theatre, Mr Tar Ukoh.

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