The Executive Director in charge of Public Sector at First Bank, Mallam
Dauda Lawal, has revealed what he told the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission when he was detained sometimes ago.
Lawal, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that he was actually
questioned about his relationship with a former Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
He said it was true that his “name has featured prominently in the EFCC
investigations of Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of
Petroleum Resources under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan”.
Lawal also said he was “questioned by the EFCC over his alleged role or
complicity in the alleged $25m acquisition of the Le Meridien Hotel in
Port Harcourt.”
He, however, denied the allegation that the former minister channelled the
funds for the purchase of the property through him.
Lawal said, “This allegation is malicious and without substance in any
material particular. It must be stated clearly that Lawal is completely
oblivious of the ownership status of the said hotel neither is he directly
or remotely aware of any transaction involving the former Minister on this
hotel.”
He said the allegation must have been fuelled by his close association
with Allison-Madueke, which “is based purely on professional pursuits”.
He added, “As the Executive Director in charge of Public sector of the
bank, it is incumbent on him to build the necessary bridges to attract all
the benefits the bank can muster from the financial operations of the
public sector.
“For the purpose of emphasis, Mallam Lawal Dauda has never been a conduit
for movement of illicit funds neither has he been involved in the purchase
of any hotel either here or elsewhere. This much was told to the EFCC
during his interrogation.”
He added that, “The former minister, given the influence she wielded
within the government and operations in the oil sector was certainly an
asset to any corporate Organisation, especially the banks.
“All the banks in Nigeria and abroad actively sought to have banking
relationships with her because she sat atop a sector which is the prime
revenue spinner for the country. It is to Mr. Lawal’s credit that the
First Bank group participated actively in offering financial services to
the oil industry under Madueke.