A civil society group, the New Initiative for Credible Leadership has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately investigate
the sacked MD of NEXIM Bank, Robert Orya over allegations of award of fictitious loans to his friends and associates while holding sway in the bank as MD/CEO.
The group which said it is in total support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption mantra said the ex-bank boss used his exalted position to disburse huge funds running into billions of Naira to himself, friends and associates.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Executive Director of the group, Yahaya Aminu urged President Buhari to forward a bill to the National Assembly to stop every one indicted for corruption from finding his/her back into the system anywhere in the country.
Aminu said several months after Orya was invited for questioning by the EFCC, Nigerians would like to find out from the new EFCC boss, Mr. Magu if the case file disappeared with the former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.
He said “president Buhari has vowed to recover all looted funds and deal ruthless with looters, but we wonder why the EFCC has not visited Orya dollar tank farm in Makurdi where Orya and his wife have kept their foreign currencies.”
Speaking further, he said, “it will be recalled that immediately after his removal from NEXIM bank, the Vanguard newspaper reported that Orya allegedly withdrew the sum of N1 billion in the build-up to the 2015 election and paying same to the Peoples Democratic Party to aid its presidential campaign.
“We also read in the paper that while in office, Orya demand for 10 per cent bribe of any amount to be approved for customers and other illegal sundry charges, which discouraged potential businessmen from patronising the bank for development funds.”
He said President Muhammadu Buhari must immediately direct the anti corruption agency to begin a thorough investigation of the former bank boss and ensure that all looted funds are recovered.