NAFDAC: Drug criminals behind Orhii’s ordeal

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Paul Orhii, its director-general (DG) is being targeted by drug counterfeiters who are out to infiltrate the agency.

Describing Orhii’s visit to the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as “a normal and routine process”, NAFDAC absolved him of any wrongdoing.

On Monday, the anti-graft agency quizzed the DG for several hours when he honoured their invitation to respond to allegations bordering on contract scam.

He was eventually granted administrative bail, but he is expected to re-appear before the commission.

However, in a statement issued late Monday, Abubakar Jimoh, NAFDAC’s director of special duties, said Orhii’s visit to the commission was meant to clear his name.

“NAFDAC has been alerted to an online trending news of the visit of the director-general of NAFDAC to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC) today,” the statement read.

“The visit was a normal and routine process for those who are familiar with the procedure of an investigative agency like EFCC.

“There is no hue and cry about this visit since it was normal for anyone who is accused to respond and clear his name accordingly. The DG was never arrested as being portrayed by these online portals.

“There’s nothing unusual about this but to applaud the DG for his courage to want to engage the recalcitrant director who has decided to dance naked in the public and become a willing tool in the hands of the counterfeiters who want to infiltrate and derail an organized system.”

Earlier in the month, some officials of NAFDAC accused Orhii, who was appointed in 2009, of abusing his office.

In a petition titled: Monumental frauds and waste of tax payers money by Dr. Paul B. Orhii, DG NAFDAC, the unnamed officials made several allegations against the DG, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into his conduct in office.