The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has denied any wrongdoing on the part of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Yewande Sadiku, being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corruption allegations.
The NIPC management stated this in a statement reacting to media reports about her interrogation by the EFCC on Monday.
Ms Sadiku was reportedly grilled for hours on Monday in connection with wide-ranging corruption allegations.
But the NIPC management said on the heels of the reports on Monday that the petitions against her had been previously investigated by other anti-corruption agencies and she was found not to have any case to answer.
They described Ms Sadiku, who doubles as the Executive Secretary of NIPC as “a diligent public servant who is proud of her service to Nigeria.”
According to NIPC: “She is deeply committed to governance and accountability and therefore challenges anyone with evidence of any wrongdoing by her in her service to the NIPC to make it public.
“The petitions being investigated by EFCC contain issues that have been investigated by other anti-corruption agencies, none of whom has indicated that she has any case to answer.”
The commission’s management also said she voluntarily honoured an invitation by the EFCC and was not arrested or detained as reported in some quarters.
It stated: “The attention of the Management of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission has been drawn to some media reports that the Executive Secretary/CEO Ms Yewande Sadiku was arrested and detained by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday 09 August 2021.
“Management clarifies that Ms Yewande Sadiku voluntarily honored an invitation by EFCC and responded to the issues raised.
“She honoured an invitation by the EFCC on 09 August 2021; she was neither detained nor arrested.”
Interrogation
Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES reports that sources familiar with the case said that she arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja about 11 a.m. on Monday.
One of the sources disclosed that some petitioners accused the NIPC boss of abuse of office, contract irregularities and receipt of certain allowances.
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Although details of the allegations against her are sketchy, PREMIUM TIMES reports that it is aware that some aggrieved board members in her organisation have repeatedly accused her of wrongdoing, duplicating petitions to several investigative agencies and the presidency.
The official has consistently denied any wrongdoing and all the agencies that have investigated her, including the ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau, have not established any wrongdoing so far.
Insiders at the NIPC said some board members and management staff memberd are displeased with Ms Sadiku for insisting on due process and accountability in the running of the agency.
Ms Sadiku has been Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Nigeria’s foremost investment promotion agency, since November 2016.
Until October 2016 prior, she was the Executive Director responsible for Stanbic IBTC Group’s Corporate and Investment Banking business, ensuring the realisation of business opportunities in Nigeria’s complex operating environment.
Her profile on the NIPC website said she managed key relationships with regulators, and several of Nigeria’s leading corporate and multinational clients. Ms Sadiku was previously Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC’s investment banking business.
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