Lawyers threatens to drag Buhari to court over alleged illegal appointment into NEXIM bank

… Petition EU, SGF, Senate, IGP, others

Lawyers for Reform Group (LRG) have threatened to drag President Muhammadu Buhari to court over the appointment of Stella Erhuvwuoghene Okotete as the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).

Protesting the appointment of Okotete, Thursday in Abuja outside the National Assembly complex, the lawyers said her appointment was in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statutory laws on the eighteen years mandatory experience out of which thirteen years must have been in active banking service and elevated to the position of General Manager.

Speaking on behalf of LRG, Executive Project Director Aare Oladotun Hassan, said the body will not hesitate to seek legal sanction Against President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government if nothing is done to correct the anomalies.

Hassan disclosed that the body has written a petition to Nigeria’s Head of the European Union, UK, US Embassy, IGP, NBA President, Attorney General of the Federation and President Muhammadu Buhari on why Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and ninth Senate leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan needs to investigate the 2019 unimplemented Senate report on the leadership of the bank.

According to him, the report presented to the house by Senator Samuel Anyawu, Senator Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Jeremiah Oseni, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, Senator Binta Masi Garba and others in the 13-member-led Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on the well investigated and resolved Petition submitted in 2018 by Myson Law Practice represented by Mr Myson Nejo, concerning Okotete qualifications has not to be implemented.

His words: “Nigeria and the entire oil-rich Niger Delta region where we have more than a thousand well-educated intellectual dons like Aruma Otie, Herbert Wigwe to mention a few compared to the ridiculous and inexperienced Okotete.

“Consequently, the likes of Stella Okotete’s appointment are resultant negative effects of our retrogression and economic downturns as a country, debasing us as the Poverty Capital of the World and most recently announced by the National Bureau of Statistics rated us that over 90 million Nigerians are living in abject poverty, as a result of such unqualified people like Stella Okotete’s appointment with total intellectual emptiness handling highly sensitive positions in our various helms of National, States and Corporate affairs.

“In compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria Act Regulations and Order 41(3) of the Senate Rule and by the reason for her lack of capacity not to have served in the banking service for 18 years and must have risen to the level of General Manager for two years, hence she is not fit and merit to continue to hold the Executive Director of the NEXIM BANK, we, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to act decisively accordingly.

“We request that she be prosecuted for misleading the entire Nigerians and false misrepresentation, while all monies earned and corruption spree activities such loan recycling, embezzlement and misappropriation of huge billions of Naira and Dollars committed during her entire period of appointment be thoroughly Investigated by the IGP.

“We further reiterate that if nothing meaningful and urgent is done in compliance with our fundamental demands on or before 7th of December, 2022(Seven Days Ultimatum) we shall not hesitate to seek legal sanction Against President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government of Nigeria forthwith.