NCC Commissioner Linked to Contracts Worth Over ₦219 Million Amid Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

Livinus Chibuike January 20, 2025

Last updated on May 31st, 2026 at 06:52 am

Fresh findings have raised questions over the conduct of a serving commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Abowei Millionare Freeborn Nestor, following the emergence of records linking him to a private company that received government contracts valued at more than ₦219 million.

Documents reviewed during the investigation indicate that Nestor is listed as a director of JAMI Services & Sons & Company Limited, a firm that benefitted from several public contracts while he occupied a senior public office position.

The development has drawn attention to provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, which regulates the conduct of public officers and seeks to prevent conflicts of interest in government. Under the law, full-time public officials are restricted from engaging in the management or control of private businesses, except those involved in agriculture.

Investigators say the arrangement raises concerns about compliance with these provisions, as public officials are expected to separate their official duties from private commercial interests.

Records show that JAMI Services & Sons & Company Limited received contracts amounting to ₦219,552,306.03 from government agencies. One of the contracts involved the execution of external works at a barracks facility belonging to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the Federal Capital Territory.

Payment records indicate that the NDLEA made a series of disbursements to the company for the project. On 4 June 2023, the firm received ₦48,072,200.93. This was followed by another payment of ₦111,648,370.43 on 4 August 2023. A further ₦42,964,591.01 was paid on 9 December 2023, while a retention payment of ₦16,867,143.66 was released on 31 December 2024.

Corporate registration documents show that JAMI Services & Sons & Company Limited was incorporated on 22 May 2013 with registration number 1116682. The company’s registered address is listed as No. 1 Choba Road, East-West Road, Isiodu, Elioha, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The same records identify Abowei Millionare Freeborn Nestor as one of the company’s directors, a position that has attracted scrutiny because of his role as a commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission during the period under review.

Governance and accountability advocates argue that situations where public officials maintain active interests in companies benefiting from government contracts can undermine confidence in public procurement processes and fuel perceptions of undue influence in the award of contracts.

The revelations are expected to intensify calls for a closer examination of compliance with public service ethics regulations and conflict-of-interest provisions across government institutions.