Aisha Rimi, recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) by President Bola Tinubu, has a history of being indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud involving the diversion of N3 billion in funds belonging to the Lagos state government.
The alleged fraud came to light in 2018 when EFCC lawyer Olamide Sadiq revealed that the anti-graft agency was alerted to suspicious transfers exceeding N3 billion from the Lagos state government’s Number Plate Production Authority to the accounts of Rimi and Partners and Ekosina Investment Limited. Aisha Rimi was the signatory for both accounts and the sole proprietor of the law firm.
“Investigations revealed that Aisha Rimi is the major partner in Rimi and Partners, and she is also in control of Ekosina Investment Limited, a company seen to have received substantial transfers from the Lagos state government Number Plate Production Authority,” stated Mr. Sadiq in 2018.
At the time, Aisha Rimi’s husband, Folorunsho Coker, held the position of managing director of the Number Plate Authority. It was suspected that the government funds were diverted with his knowledge and involvement, potentially making him the primary suspect in the matter, with Ms. Rimi considered an accomplice in the alleged fraud. Her two companies were listed as the second and third respondents in the EFCC’s legal action.
The EFCC’s investigation in 2018 led to an order by Mohammed Idris, a judge at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, to freeze ten Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) accounts linked to Aisha Rimi and her associated companies.
“From preliminary investigations by the commission, the second and third respondents were used to divert funds from the Lagos state government Number Plate Production Authority with the influence of Folorunsho Coker, who was the managing director of the Lagos state agency,” explained Mr. Sadiq.
It remains uncertain whether the EFCC informed President Bola Tinubu of the substantial fraud charges against Aisha Rimi before her appointment as CEO of the NIPC, and whether the anti-graft agency concluded its investigation in 2018.
As of the time of this report, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajuren had not responded to a request for comment regarding whether they had shared their findings with President Tinubu.
The presidency had also not responded to inquiries about whether President Tinubu was aware of the fraud allegations surrounding Aisha Rimi before appointing her as the CEO of NIPC.
It is worth noting that this incident is not the first instance of individuals with corruption allegations being appointed to key positions in President Tinubu’s government, such as Femi Gbajabiamila, whose law license was terminated by the State Bar of Georgia in the United States due to corruption and ethical lapses, currently serving as the president’s chief of staff.
