Suspected N21 Million Budgeting Frauds Uncovered in Kogi East Constituency Projects as Abandoned Projects Tied to Senator Echocho Deteriorate

Secrets Reporters

SecretsReporters has uncovered an abnormal pattern of budgeting linked to constituency projects associated with Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, who represents Kogi East Federal Constituency. A single project coded ERGP27172062, described as the construction of a field office block at Acharu in Kogi State under the National Institute for Oil Palm Research, has been featured three times in federal government budgets since 2023.

In the 2023 Appropriation Bill it appeared as an ongoing project with an allocation of N4,000,000 (Four Million Naira). The 2024 Appropriation Bill listed the same project with N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira). The 2026 Appropriation Bill, already approved, includes it again with N7,000,000 (Seven Million Naira). The total sums to N21,000,000 (Twenty-one Million Naira). Such repeated allocations for the identical project code and description, without clear evidence of completion or distinct phases, raise serious concerns about fiscal responsibility and whether these funds deliver tangible benefits or simply recur in budgets inefficiently.

This duplicated funding ties into broader efforts to resuscitate the Acharu Oil Mill in Egume, Dekina Local Government Area, presented as a key achievement by the senator. The mill, originally a federal facility abandoned for decades, underwent rehabilitation and was handed over to the local government in April 2024 with new equipment and infrastructure intended to boost oil palm processing and local employment. Despite the official relaunch and positive announcements, SecretsReporters learnt that the mill operated for only one day before shutting down completely. It has remained nonfunctional ever since, with equipment idle and deteriorating due to lack of sustained maintenance or operational support. The investments poured into its revival, combined with the N21,000,000 (Twenty-one Million Naira) earmarked across budgets for the associated field office meant to aid research and administration, represent significant public resources now wasting away without delivering promised economic gains to farmers and residents.

Abandoned Acharu Oil Mill
A parallel case involves the Ibaji Rice Mill in Ejule Ojebe, another flagship constituency project facilitated by Senator Echocho. This ultra-modern facility was equipped with advanced milling machines to improve rice processing efficiency and support agricultural productivity in the region. It was handed over amid expectations of job creation and enhanced food security. In 2023 devastating floods inundated Ibaji Local Government Area, severely damaging the mill including its warehouse and infrastructure. Engineers carried out inspections afterward and produced audit reports recommending remodeling. The senator’s media aide, Mikail Ibrahim, publicly stated that funding for these repairs had been recaptured in the 2025 budget to enable execution. However, as of January 2026 with the 2026 budget already in effect, no remodeling has taken place and the project remains abandoned. The modern machines sit unused while the facility continues to degrade. Footage that circulated online showed only flood debris in the warehouse, deliberately omitting any view of the installation room housing the core equipment, which left viewers with incomplete information about the true state of affairs. With investments estimated in the billions of Naira for construction and equipping, this abandonment exacerbates hardship in a flood-vulnerable area where rice farming sustains many households.

These instances highlight a troubling pattern in which senators initiate high-profile constituency projects to enhance their public image, secure legislative insertions into national budgets, and claim credit during campaigns, yet fail to ensure follow-through, monitoring, or sustainability. In some cases, diversion of funds emerges via surrogate companies used by lawmakers to collect kickbacks.

In Kogi East, Senator Echocho has facilitated numerous interventions including roads, empowerment programs, and agricultural facilities, but several have suffered neglect after initial launches. Constituency projects often consume vast sums without lasting impact when oversight lapses, leading to duplication, inflated costs, and eventual decay. Flood-prone regions like Ibaji demand resilient infrastructure and continuous support, but dependence on annual budget cycles frequently results in delays and abandonment. This cycle not only wastes taxpayer money but also undermines trust in governance and hinders genuine development for underserved communities.