Former NIRSAL Boss Arrested Over N5.6bn Wheat Project Scam
Almost a year after he was sacked as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdlhameed, has been arrested for allegedly N5.6bn Wheat Project Scam.
NIRSAL, a $500m non-bank financial institution, is a creation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria.
Abdulhameed was kicked out of office following allegations of corruption, including a 2018 N5.6 billion wheat project meant for farmers in Kano and Jigawa States.
His sack was endorsed by the Board of the CBN following approval from the Presidency in December last year.
He was apprehended last week on the premises of a federal government’s revenue-generating agency in Abuja where he had gone to lobby for a reappointment.
32 official vehicles were allegedly discovered to have been diverted to personal use by the former NIRSAL MD during his tenure.
He was also said to have allegedly made away with nine exotic vehicles, including two bullet proof jeeps, and household items at four official guest houses belonging to the NIRSAL in Lagos, Abuja and Yola.
