A civil rights group, Centre for Social Justice, has petitioned the
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to investigate the
appointment and activities of the Nigeria Export and Import (NEXIM) bank’s
Executive Director for business Development, which they claim is
undeserving.
In a letter addressed to the ICPC signed by Comrade Ikpa Isaac for the
group, dated 5 June, 2015, the group said the appointment of the
Executive Director, Mrs. Folake Itohan Oke Salami did not follow due
process as she was not qualified to be appointed executive director in
the Bank.
“As the situation stands, we have carried out private investigations on
the credentials of the said Mrs. Folake Itohan Oke Salami and discovered
that she committed fraud and told huge lies on oath in order to occupy the
aforesaid position”. It read in part.
The group which is a coalition of civil rights groups addressed a press
conference claiming, Mrs Salami had falsified her experience status in the
banking sector to influence her appointment into that position, stating
that her claim of working in a multi purpose cooperative Society did not
fit the bill as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a press briefing held in Abuja and addressed by the Executive
Cordinator the group claimed the said Executive Director had used her
claimed as owning a multi-purpose cooperative society to influence her
appointment.
“In the light of the above, paragraph 3.2A of the said circular states
that a Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director and Executive Director
of a bank such as NEXIM Bank must have possess a minimum of fifteen(15)
years post qualification experience out of which, at least, ten (10) must
be in management and leadership positions…
“Sir, we make bold to state that a “Multipurpose Cooperative Society” does
not qualify as a bank in the eyes of the Central Bank of Nigeria. It
therefore follows that Mrs. Folake Itohan Oke Salami’s claim of having
acted as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of her mushroom
“Multipurpose Cooperative Society”, thereby fraudulently earning herself
the prestigious position of Executive Director Business Development,
Nigerian Export-Import Bank to the detriment of the other suitably
qualified Nigerian citizens constitutes an offence punishable under
Section 25 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act No. 5,
2000,″ it stated.
They have thus called on the ICPC to ignite full-fledged investigation
into the records of Mrs. Salami to ascertain whether or not she is
qualified ab initio to be considered and appointed as Executive Director
Business Development of Nigerian Export-Import Bank.
Petitioning further they also demand that upon confirmation that she does
not qualify and she lied on oath, criminal proceedings be initiated
against her to ensure that she is not only removed from office and sent to
jail but that the salaries, emoluments and allowances she had received
while fraudulently occupying the office be returned to the coffers of the
Federal Government of Nigeria to serve as deterrence to other Nigerians.
The group has however warned that failure of the Commission to act on
this petition within 7 (Seven) working days will leave them with no other
option than to mobilize the media and other concerned organizations to
occupy the commission’s office until the attention of Mr. President and
the international community is drawn to the matter.
END