The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) representing the interests of Research Fellows in all Federal Research and Development Institutions (RDIs) and Inter-University Centres in Nigeria and the Coalition of Civil Societies (CSOs) on Thursday protested at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s event which held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
The bodies called on the apex Bank to compel release of €14, 210,119.74 foreign fund meant for housing and research development in Nigeria, but was withheld by the Zenith Bank of Nigeria PLC barely a year now.
The National Secretary General of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, leading the protesters decried that the poor funding of Research and poor living conditions of Researchers in Nigeria, instituted the struggle for Research Funding.
During the rehearsal protest, Dr Theophilus explained how ASURI commissioned CEAGIS properties Limited to source for funds.
In his address, he said, “ASURI commissioned CEAGIS properties Limited, a private limited liability company, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) since 10th February 2009 and has its EFCC SCUML certificate with the requisite tranche inflow limit, via an award letter to source funds, lands, build and deliver houses across the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria beginning with Abuja FCT since November, 2016.’
He wondered how the Zenith Bank didn’t raise issues when negotiation for sourcing of funds from overseas was ongoing despite following due process and fulfilling the anti-money laundering requirements, only for the money to be withheld after it has been sent in two tranches, insisting that the fund should be released for development of housing projects for the researchers.
“CEAGIS Properties Limited succeeded in sourcing foreign funders for their people- oriented initiative and the joy of ASURI knew no bounds when the first two tranches of the much-talked-about funds for the ASURI housing project which they have been pursuing for ten years, arrived in the country on 26th May 2021 through the Zenith Bank PLC account of CEAGIS Properties Limited from LLOYDS BANK PLC who paid in the sum of €4,210,119.74 Euro and on 30th July, 2021 DEUTSCHE BANK AG FRANKFURT paid in the sum of €10,000,000 into same account.
“However our joy was short-lived, as Zenith Bank PLC, instead of releasing the funds for the purpose for which they were sent, closed all CEAGIS properties LTD domiciliary accounts and naira accounts and proceeded in writing a petition against the Managing Director of CEAGIS properties Limited, Engr. Anslem Aphimia Eragbe and ASURI, to the Inspector General of Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria on charges of Criminal Conspiracy and Forgery.
“Upon receipt of funds, Zenith Bank PLC, instead of releasing the said funds for the purpose for which there were sourced and sent, closed all CEAGIS Properties Limited domiciliary accounts (US$D, €EUR, £GBP) and naira accounts since 23rd June, 2021.
“They wrote a petition against the Managing Director of CEAGIS Properties Limited, Engr. Anslem Aphimia Eragbe, and ASURI to the Inspector General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), HAGF, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery for which relevant authorities have conducted their investigations, detaining Engr. Eragbe for four days in the process, yet finding nothing incriminating against either the company or the union.’
The National Secretary lamented that they are not fraudsters, but Research Scientists who are patriots emancipating for a better Nigeria through enhanced Research.
He urged the well meaning Nigerians to use their good offices to intervene in whatever way they could, and within the ambit of the law of the land to compel Zenith Bank PLC and relevant Federal Government agencies to release the ASURI Workers Housing and Research/Development fund.
