The Executive Director in charge of Public Sector at First Bank, Mallam
\nDauda Lawal, has revealed what he told the Economic and Financial Crime
\nCommission when he was detained sometimes ago.<\/p>\n
Lawal, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that he was actually
\nquestioned about his relationship with a former Minister of Petroleum
\nResources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.<\/p>\n
He said it was true that his \u201cname has featured prominently in the EFCC
\ninvestigations of Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of
\nPetroleum Resources under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lawal also said he was \u201cquestioned by the EFCC over his alleged role or
\ncomplicity in the alleged $25m acquisition of the Le Meridien Hotel in
\nPort Harcourt.\u201d<\/p>\n
He, however, denied the allegation that the former minister channelled the
\nfunds for the purchase of the property through him.<\/p>\n
Lawal said, \u201cThis allegation is malicious and without substance in any
\nmaterial particular. It must be stated clearly that Lawal is completely
\noblivious of the ownership status of the said hotel neither is he directly
\nor remotely aware of any transaction involving the former Minister on this
\nhotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the allegation must have been fuelled by his close association
\nwith Allison-Madueke, which \u201cis based purely on professional pursuits\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cAs the Executive Director in charge of Public sector of the
\nbank, it is incumbent on him to build the necessary bridges to attract all
\nthe benefits the bank can muster from the financial operations of the
\npublic sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the purpose of emphasis, Mallam Lawal Dauda has never been a conduit
\nfor movement of illicit funds neither has he been involved in the purchase
\nof any hotel either here or elsewhere. This much was told to the EFCC
\nduring his interrogation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that, \u201cThe former minister, given the influence she wielded
\nwithin the government and operations in the oil sector was certainly an
\nasset to any corporate Organisation, especially the banks.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the banks in Nigeria and abroad actively sought to have banking
\nrelationships with her because she sat atop a sector which is the prime
\nrevenue spinner for the country. It is to Mr. Lawal\u2019s credit that the
\nFirst Bank group participated actively in offering financial services to
\nthe oil industry under Madueke.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n