A petition signed by Barrister Edward Shikzum, the National Director for legal services for Transparency for National Development (TND), a Non-Governmental Agency based in Abuja, has accused the Managing Director of Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abbati AbdulHameed of running the affairs of the agency like a personal business by his constant violation of presidential executive orders. This was made known in the document tendered by the Abuja based NGO requesting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Anti-Graft agencies to beam their searchlight on the stewardship of the NIRSAL boss whom they described as “…unfit for trust to pilot the affairs of such an important organ of Government going by his leadership antecedents at the organization”.
It was alleged that AbdulHameed Aliyu had on several occasions flown on first-class tickets while carrying out official assignments, a practice in contradiction of the executive directive of President Buhari to public servants which has over time incurred a huge chunk of money for NIRSAL resulting in unnecessary debt piled up for the agency. Further findings also showed that the Managing Director allegedly siphoned N342Million which was released on July 19, 2018, by the central bank of Nigeria for the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) leading to the huge loss of N600 million. N1 billion was also seized by NIRSAL in regards to the Delta and Imo states Intervention Fund according to the document. AbdulHameed was further accused of breach of power and insubordination as the NGO called for a thorough probing on his person to expose his corrupt practices which include nepotism and contravention of the federal government’s rules of engagement signed by the former secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius and also contained in the Fifth Schedule code of conduct for Public Officers. Surprisingly, as thick as thieves, the Director surrounded himself with his loyalist especially, the technical assistant of NIRSAL, Babangida AbdulHameed, who handles all procurement related matters as he is rumoured to be a blood brother to the director and is said to have gotten to his current position through the influence of Aliyu AbdulHameed. Sources within the agency also disclosed that a contractor named Imran AbdulHameed also alleged to be the Director’s son was also contracted as NIRSAL’s sole supplier to supply office equipment, desktop computers, laptops and other office requirements which violets the public procurement act. “a check at NIRSAL reveals that the managing director apart from being dictatorial, pompous and administering the organization with primitiveness, he boasts on having the backing of his blood brother at the CBN and connected to the presidency for cover” the NGO claimed. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s corruption crusade, the NGO insists that the appropriate agencies swing into action immediately by conducting a thorough investigation to save the agency from turning into a front for a family business.