The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested and detained a former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, in connection with alleged N50billion fraud.

Lawal was picked up by operatives of the commission in the early hours of yesterday.

A source in the commission said: "The ex-Minister has a case to answer over massive fraud, abuse of office and failure to follow government’s laid down policy on due process.

"He is also being investigated over award of contracts to unregistered companies running into over N50billion.

"While Lawal is in custody, we are already searching for some of his cronies involved in the fraud."

The source added: "We have been carrying out our investigation in the last few months. The suspect had interacted with our team, before we picked him up yesterday. We want to quiz him over the latest evidence at our disposal.

"We will not detain him beyond what the law allows. I can tell you that he is cooperating with this commission.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest and detention of the ex-Minister.

He said: "Investigation is still in progress."

But there were fears last night that the arrest might have been politically motivated as Lawal is said to be a major financier of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Nasarawa State.

The EFCC source however said: "Lawal’s arrest has no political undertone. If you ask the suspect, he will tell you that the investigation had been ongoing."