By Soni Daniel

ABUJA— Acting Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Mr Richard Esin, has sought the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the recovery of bad debts totalling over N70 million owed by some property developers.

Esin, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the commission’s acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu, yesterday, in Abuja, said: “We seek the kind assistance of the commission on the recovery of the funds to the bank. These monies belong to Nigerian citizens.

“There are several organisations not complying with the provisions of the National Housing Fund Act and we hope that the commission will work with the bank to promote the act.”

He further assured Magu that the existing Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the commission and the bank was still effective.

Esin, who stated that affordable housing was a veritable tool in the fight against corruption, added: “Over N3 billion in mortgages has been released for over 100 staff of the EFCC; N1.6 billion National Housing Fund loan by a first generation bank for 131 staff is awaiting the board’s approval and N1.3 billion NHF loan has not been disbursed because houses are not available.”

In his remark, Magu said his administration would continue to be guided by the details of the MoU between the commission and the bank.

He, however, added that the law governing the NHF scheme needed to be checked and reviewed at the legislative level.

Magu further urged the bank to strengthen its compliance unit.