The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, demanded the arrest of Aliyu Abdulhameed, the allegedly fired Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, on Monday over an alleged N5.6 billion wheat fraud.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, issued a statement condemning President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for secretly dismissing Abdulhameed after the alleged heist was exposed by the media.
According to the group, the secrecy surrounding the entire corruption allegations has once again exposed the charade of the President Buhari regime’s anti-graft fight for deliberate actions to cover wrongdoings of public officials, making the current administration complicit.
As a result, HURIWA charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission with arresting Abdulhameed and charging him in court, if he was indeed fired as widely reported.
According to media reports, Abdulhameed was fired last week due to multiple allegations of corruption, including a 2018 wheat project for farmers in Kano and Jigawa states. Another fellow has since been appointed to lead NIRSAL, a $500 million non-bank financial institution established by the CBN to manage agribusiness credit risks in Nigeria.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko commented, “The clandestine sacking of Aliyu Abdulhameed as NIRSAL managing director once again demonstrates the hypocrisy of Muhammadu Buhari’s so-called anti-corruption fight.”
“A question demands an answer. Why was Abdulhameed’s removal kept secret, and why has this government not confirmed the widely circulated news of his ignominious exit for more than 48 hours? Why was he removed despite the fact that this former MD told some civil society organizations that his hands were clean and that it was all a set-up? This entire charade is grandiose, and Nigerians have witnessed the insincerity of Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign yet again.
“HURIWA demands Abdulhameed’s immediate arrest and prosecution if he was fired because he was wanted on allegations of massive heists of funds.” The EFCC and the ICPC should do their jobs and arrest and charge the suspect. Anything less than this is injustice
“Sadly, Nigerians are alarmed at the alleged corruption perpetrated by government officials under Buhari who promised to fight graft pre-2015. The case of the former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, is still fresh in mind.
“Also that of the former chairperson of the defunct, Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina; then acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu; then Director-General, of the National Broadcasting Commission, Modibbo Kawu; former Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman; amongst others. There are many more but only time will expose them.
