The Executive Director in charge of Public Sector at First Bank, Mallam Dauda Lawal, that was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly laudering millions of dollars for the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Deziani Alison Madueke is now a happy man.

The reason is that he has regained back his job after he was suspended while the EFCC was investigating the case.
It would be recalled that Dauda was arrested to explain how huge funds allegedly stolen by the former minister were laundered through him.

THEMOMENTNG can authoritatively report that the man is back to the bank and this was after a series of boardroom politics.

Sources disclosed to us that while he was on suspension, Lawal was still carrying out his official duties like attending to meetings of interest to his portfolio.

Speaking on his arrest, Dauda said while in the custody of the EFCC, he was “questioned by the EFCC over his alleged role or complicity in the alleged $25million acquisition of the Le Meridien Hotel in Port Harcourt.”While denying any involvement in the acquisition of the said property, Mallam Lawal said “This allegation is malicious and without substance in any material particular. It must be stated clearly that Lawal is completely oblivious of the ownership status of the said hotel neither is he directly or remotely aware of any transaction involving the former Minister on this hotel. He warned that the present situation where by the anti-graft agency pronounces somebody guilty even before being put to trial is antithetical to the universally accepted norm of being innocent until proven guilty.

“The danger in the current narrative is the unfortunate tendency to misinterpret every relationship to be based on fraudulent foundations especially where the verdict of guilt has been pronounced on one of the parties way in advance of a formal trial. “It is difficult for one to state his side of the story where the long knives have been drawn to hack down anybody connected with the ‘guilt’.

Meanwhile, at the time of Lawal’s arrest, a First Bank source reveal that the bank was not involved in handling of the cash for which Mr. Lawal was arrested, claiming that he acted in his “private capacity” as a long-time friend of the former minister.

Gud 4 him if not found wanting.