Pecohub In a dramatic escalation of the Nigerian military’s long-standing corruption crisis, Major-General Erema Akerejola has been accused by his own family of diverting millions meant for soldiers’ welfare and battlefield equipment to bankroll luxury assets and private businesses — including a $1.38 million mansion in suburban Atlanta, U.S.A.
A petition submitted to the EFCC and ICPC, spearheaded by retired Major Fimihan Akerejola, paints a damning picture of how the army logistics chief allegedly used fake contracts, shell companies, and family proxies to funnel military funds into personal wealth — while soldiers on the frontlines continue to suffer with delayed allowances and obsolete equipment.
“He named the company after his children and ran military contracts through it,” the petition reads, referencing EMI Scanners Integrated Services Ltd, one of several entities allegedly used to siphon defense budgets.
The case adds to a growing catalogue of rot within the Nigerian Armed Forces, echoing the unresolved arms fraud scandal involving Sambo Dasuki and the recent jailing of Army Properties boss, General Umar Mohammed.
How the Scheme Allegedly Worked
The petition details a complex web of shell companies, proxies, and family insiders used to launder military contracts into personal wealth. In 2017, General Akerejola reportedly established EMI Scanners Integrated Services Ltd, named after his children, to front for military contracts. The firm’s directorship includes his father, mother, and cousin, and was repeatedly used to siphon army logistics funds, according to documents cited in the petition.
The U.S. Connection
According to the petition, the looted funds were routed through various entities and individuals into foreign accounts and used to acquire property abroad. The most prominent of these is a luxurious five-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion sitting on over 4,000 square feet at 11860 Old Station Pl, Alpharetta, Georgia. The home, valued at approximately $1.38 million, was traced directly to Major-General Akerejola through asset records reviewed by Peoples Gazette.
Family’s Role and Whistleblowing
The revelations did not come from investigative journalists or internal leaks but from the general’s own relatives. Retired Major Fimihan Akerejola, a cousin, submitted the petition and documented how the general’s wife, Grace Akerejola, allegedly assisted in laundering funds through multiple companies. One such firm, LBCS LLC, was registered in Atlanta under her name and allegedly served as another front for the family’s growing portfolio of foreign assets.
Use of Proxies and Shell Companies
The petition further alleges that Major-General Akerejola used his first cousin, Toba Oduwaiye, as a primary proxy to secure contracts fraudulently from various army departments. EMI Scanners Integrated Services Ltd was just one of the multiple fronts used to secure deals under false pretenses, often for logistics services never delivered or grossly overbilled.
Violation of Military Conduct and Code of Ethics
Despite acquiring high-value foreign assets, General Akerejola reportedly failed to declare these holdings in violation of Nigeria’s federal code of conduct for public officers. His actions, if proven, would constitute a breach of military discipline, criminal financial misconduct, and abuse of public trust—especially given the funds were meant for the welfare of Nigerian soldiers fighting terrorism and banditry.
Systemic Military Corruption
This case is not isolated. The Nigerian military has suffered repeated scandals involving top-ranking officers. In 2023, Major General Umar Mohammed was sentenced to over seven years in prison over a $3.3 million fraud. The still-unresolved case of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, accused of looting over ₦33 billion, further illustrates how entrenched corruption has weakened Nigeria’s security apparatus.
Impact on Soldiers
The alleged looting comes at a time when soldiers continue to complain about delayed allowances, inadequate weapons, and poor field support.
Earlier in 2025, several units lamented that their Scare Scheme Allowances had been withheld since Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede took over as Chief of Army Staff. Critics argue that the rot at the top is directly responsible for the suffering of soldiers on the frontlines.
