Alleged fraud: HURIWA tasks EFCC, ICPC on arrest of former NIRSAL boss

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, urged Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest the reportedly dismissed Managing Director of Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NISRAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed over alleged fraud.

HURIWA said it “demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of Abdulhameed, if indeed Buhari sacked him because he found him wanting, regarding allegations of massive heists of funds. The EFCC and the ICPC should do their work, arrest the fellow and charge him to court. Anything short of this is injustice. And if his removal is politically motivated, then he should be reinstated with immediate effect.”

National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, condemned what he described as secret sacking of Abdulhameed by President Muhammadu Buhari and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, after the media uncovered the alleged fraud.
The group claimed that the secrecy surrounding the matter exposes the Buhari administration’s pretentious fight against corruption.

According to media reports, Abdulhameed was dismissed, last week, over multiple allegations of corruption. Another person has reportedly been appointed to lead NIRSAL, a $500m non-bank financial institution, which is a creation of the CBN, mandated to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria.