President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered the removal of the Managing Director (MD) of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed.
It was gathered that the NIRSAL MD was fired over multiple corruption allegations.
Abdulhameed’s removal was coming following an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to him and other officials of NIRSAL for questioning, over their involvement in a wheat project scandal.
A report in January 2022 alleged how a multi-billion naira loan guaranteed by NIRSAL for three investor companies for the cultivation and harvest of 20,000 hectares of dry season wheat in Kano and Jigawa was diverted by the companies in connivance with NIRSAL officials.
Abdulhameed though had denied the allegation saying they were masterminded by faceless individuals to tarnish his image and that of the organisation.
Apart from the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Police also investigated the matter.
An insider who confided in Daily Trust said following a directive from the Presidency, the MD was ousted on Thursday afternoon and escorted out of the premises shortly after he briefly addressed the staff.
